The SUN HK : Filipina admits stealing employer’s luxury outfits, makeup

The Eastern Court magistrate said stealing from an employer is a 'serious offence'

A Filipina about to leave her employer’s flat on Nov. 8 following a fight over some missing red packets containing cash, was found to have a number of luxury items belonging to the employer in her suitcase, including a Burberry coat. She was promptly arrested.

Yesterday, Nov. 11, Mary Ann B. Canlas, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of theft before Eastern Magistrate Minnie Wat, and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

In sentencing, Magistrate Wat noted that the employer suffered no financial loss as all of the stolen items estimated to be worth more than $23,000 were all recovered. She also took note of the defense lawyer’s submission that Canlas was remorseful and determined not to reoffend.

“However, this is a serious case involving a breach of trust so an immediate custodial sentence is inevitable,” said the magistrate.

Pindutin para sa detalye

She adopted a starting point of 4.5 months imprisonment, and after giving a one-third discount for the defendant’s guilty plea, reduced the jail term to three months.

The magistrate also ordered the December 7 hearing set earlier for the case, after Canlas initially indicated she wanted to enter a “no guilt” plea, abandoned.

PINDUTIN DITO!

According to the charge sheet, the Filipina who started working for the employer on April 4, 2022 at Tung Shan Terrace in Happy Valley, stole, apart from the Burberry coat, the following items: a Moncler sweater, a Hollister t-shirt, two Hollister vests, one Ganji Lang long-sleeved shirt, one Forever coat, one Nike sweatpants, and six pieces of cosmetics including items from Shisheido, Bare Minerals and Smashbox.

The items were found in her suitcase by police officers who were called by her employer, Jocelyn Kwan, on Nov 8 as Canlas was preparing to leave after indicating she wanted to terminate their contract.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Court records showed that Kwan had confronted Canlas earlier after allegedly noticing that money inside some red packets she had been keeping was missing. Apart from the helper, there was only the employer's eight-year-old daughter staying in the house with them, so suspicion fell on Canlas.

The Filipina was said to have become emotional and readily packed her suitcase. But the employer decided not to make her leave until after the police were called in.

BASAHIN ANG DETALYE

The police did not find any red packets in her bag, but found the other items the employer did not initially realize had been taken.

When asked why she had her employer’s personal belongings in her suitcase, Canlas remained silent. However, she later said they were given to her by Kwan.

In asking for a lenient sentence, the defense lawyer said that Canlas who first arrived in Hong Kong in 2014, is now jobless and in jail, and will unlikely be allowed to remain here to work and provide for her family back in the Philippines, all because of “momentary greed.”