Filipina driven to theft by debt, jailed 16 months

A friend who left her saddled with debt led the defendant to steal from her employer, the court heard

 

A Filipina domestic helper was jailed for 16 months today after admitting at Eastern Court that she stole 11 jewelry items worth $259,000 from her employer.

The lawyer of Mary Ann Manalo, 35 years old, said this was out of character. since arriving in Hing Kong in 2012, she did not steal from her two previous employers but was driven to stealing from her last one because she was under pressure to pay a loan taken in her name by a friend, who absconded.

But Principal Magistrate Ivy Chui was triggered by the amount stolen, and referred to guidelines that said sentences for theft involving amounts from $250,000 to $1 million should start at 24 months.

TAWAG NA!

She arrived at the 16-month sentence after deducting a one-third discount (or eight months) for Manalo’s guilty plea.

The case arose after Manalo’s employer noticed that items were missing from her leather jewelry bag, which she kept in the master bedroom in the family flat in Taikoo Shing in Quarry Bay.

The employer called police, who found 11 pawnshop tickets in Manalo’s possession.

PINDUTIN DITO

During investigation, she admitted stealing five gold rings, one heart-shaped ring, four gold bracelets, and two gold necklaces between Sept. 1 and Nov. 26, 2023.

The employer was able to recover most of the jewelry by paying the pawnshop, but was unable to recover two items worth a combined $45,270 because they had been auctioned off after their pawn terms expired.

Manalo’s lawyer said she was unable to compensate for her employer’s loss.

Meanwhile, two other theft cases were adjourned by Magistrate Chui.

Lilibeth Fabros, 51 years old, was told to return on June 11 for the next hearing of her case involving the theft of one gold necklace and one gold ring from a flat in Tai Hang on June 24, 2023. She was freed on $3,000 bail.

Eden Celedonio, 46, was returned to jail custody after she appeared on a charge of theft of 15 jewelry items with a total value of $53,091 from a flat in Happy Valley between October and December 2023. The case was adjourned to May 27. 

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