By Daisy CL Mandap
 |
| A barrister is defending Ylagan against the money laundering charges (File) |
A lawyer representing former employment agency owner Ester Ylagan indicated at the District Court today, Tuesday, that she intends to dispute four charges of money laundering she allegedly committed in 2016, involving a total of $5.7 million.
Barrister
Michael Delaney asked for more time to review the case before a pre-trial
review is set, saying it has been six years since the offences were allegedly
committed, and four years since Ylagan was arrested.
 |
| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
He said there are more than 4,000 depositions to go through and 43 persons named as witnesses, including 25 listed as victims. He expects the trial to last from five to 10 days.
But when Judge Justin Ko King-sau asked if the defense could indicate by the next hearing date when a trial might be held, Delaney assured him they also want an early disposition as Ylagan is already 70 years old and is “anxious to have this matter dealt with.”
 |
| HOW TO JOIN? PINDUTIN ANG AD |
After the prosecution raised no objection, Judge Ko set down the next hearing date on January 5 next year, with a pre-trial review being held on May 25, 2023.
Ylagan’s bail of $40,000 was extended on the same terms until then.
 |
| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
Earlier, she was asked if she wanted a Tagalog interpreter in court, and she answered she could understand and speak in English. However, she eventually opted to keep a Tagalog interpreter during the succeeding hearings.
The former owner of Emry's Service Staff Employment Agency, which used to be the biggest recruiter of foreign domestic workers from the Philippines, came to court on her own.
 |
| Press for details |
The four money laundering charges against Ylagan allegedly took place between Jan 29 to Jul 8, 2016, and involved a series of
transactions, all in violation of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.
The first charge alleges that Ylagan dealt
with property known or believed to be proceeds from a crime between Jan 29 and
May 5, 2016, in the sum of HK$2,633,181.52 and US$44,658 (HK$347,439). The
total sum of HK$2,980,620 was dealt with in cash.
 |
| BASAHIN ANG DETALYE |
The
second count allegedly happened between May 12 to 23, 2016, during which the
total sum of USD300,00 (HK2,334,000) was moved by Ylagan from an account with
Standard Chartered Bank.
Her alleged offences were an offshoot of complaints made by some 400 Filipino migrant workers that she had recruited them for non-existent jobs in Britain and Canada from 2015 to 2016, for which they were charged between $10,000 and $15,000.
No one among the applicants managed to get back their money, despite attempts by the Mission for Migrant Workers to help them pursue claims against Ylagan in the Small Claims Tribunal and later, in the District Court.
 |
| PADALA NA! |
 |
.jpg) |
| PRESS FOR DETAILS |
 |
| CALL US! |
