By Vir B. Lumicao
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| The accused went in and out of a Watson's store stealing goods before she was caught |
A Filipina domestic helper who should be flying home
tomorrow, Mar 10, won’t be able to do so just yet, as she has to stay in jail
for six weeks as penalty for stealing $3,500 worth of goods in a Watson’s shop
in Central.
N.B. Cauilan, 34, was ordered jailed today by Eastern Court Magistrate Peter Law after she pleaded guilty to a charge of shop theft.
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| Pindutin para sa detalye |
The magistrate ignored an appeal by the defense lawyer to fine the defendant instead so she won’t miss her flight home. Law said the value of the goods that the defendant had stolen on Mar 7 was considerable, hence the prison sentence.
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The prosecution said Karen Wan, shop manager of the Watson’s store on the ground floor of Fung House on Connaught Road Central, was making a stock check after 5:30pm last Sunday when she noticed that some goods were missing from the shelves.
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Wan reviewed the CCTV footage and saw Cauilan had entered the shop three times between 5:09pm and 5:30pm, took the stolen property from the shelves and put them in her bag, then left without paying.
At 5:38pm, the shop manager saw the defendant again, intercepted her and reported the case. Police arrested the Filipina and recovered the stolen goods from a suitcase placed outside the shop.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
The recovered items were 5 packs of facial cream, 6 packs of shower gel, 5 bottles of deodorant, 3 packs of tissue paper, 1 pack of food supplement, 3 packs of rubber nipples, 2 packs of feeding bottles and 5 packs of body lotion. They had a total value of $3,506.10.
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The prosecution said that during investigation, the woman admitted she took the goods out of greed. At the time, she had $3,341 in her wallet. Police searched the flat where she was staying but found nothing.
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In mitigation, the duty lawyer assigned to Cauilan asked for just a fine for his client, saying the Filipina was set to fly home tomorrow, and may not be able to return to Hong Kong because of her criminal record.
But Magistrate Law was not dissuaded, and just gave the usual discount for her guilty plea.
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| BASAHIN ANG DETALYE |
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| PADALA NA! |
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