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| The Austin, where the alleged theft was supposed to have taken place |
A Filipina domestic helper appeared in Kowloon City Court yesterday, Friday, charged with stealing a total of about $140,000 cash and two pieces of gold jewelry whose value was not indicated, from her employer’s flat in Yau Ma Tei.
Janice J.M.
Villanueva, 34, was remanded in jail after the hearing until her next court
appearance on June 14.
According to the
charge sheet, Villanueva stole HK$116,120 and RMB$20,000 in cash, as well as a
gold bracelet and gold necklace from a flat in The Austin, Yau Ma Tei, on an
unknown date between Dec 22, 2023 and Apr 16, 2024. The items all belonged to
Gao Hai-yan.
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| PINDUTIN DITO |
In a separate
case heard earlier, another Filipina was charged with stealing a diamond ring and gold bracelet worth a total of $197,000 on March 15 this year from a house in Palm Springs, Lok Ma Chau,
belonging to Lo Wai-yin.
Rachel T. Paner
was remanded in custody pending further investigation, after attending Fan Ling court on May 13. She will again
appear in court on July 8.
Under Hong
Kong laws, the maximum penalty for theft is 10 years imprisonment.
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| TAWAG NA |
But according to
Eastern Principal Magistrate Ivy Chui recently, the sentencing guidelines
prescribe imprisonment of less than two years if the amount stolen is below
$250,000. The sentence can be reduced depending on the amount involved, and
whether there are mitigating circumstances, like if the defendant pleads guilty
and has a clear record.
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