14 more people arrested in anti-illegal work operations

 

Immigration uses this promotional van to warn employers against hiring illegal workers

In yet another series of raids meant to flush out illegal workers, the Immigration Department targeted various locations across Hong Kong, including 60 located in the Central District, for four consecutive days, from November 13 to November 16.

A total of 14 people were arrested, including 11 suspected illegal workers, two employers and one aider and abettor.

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In the first operation codenamed Twilight, immigration officers raided 14 locations, including premises under renovation and restaurants.

Nine suspected illegal workers, comprising seven men and two women aged 27 to 60, were arrested. A woman aged 57 who is believed to have employed the workers was arrested, along with a 64-year-old man suspected of having aided and abetted a person who breached immigration law.

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In a separate operation codenamed “Champion” immigration officers teamed up with the police in the hunt for illegal workers in Central.

Two suspected illegal workers, a man and a woman both aged 33, were arrested. The man held a recognizance form, which forbids him from taking up work. Another man, aged 58, was also held on suspicion of employing the illegal worker.

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In an effort to step up the awareness campaign about the strict law against the hiring of persons now lawfully employable, a promotional vehicle has been deployed to Tai Kok Tsui so officers could hand out leaflets warning of the consequences of such violation.

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Illegal work by visitors or residents on temporary visas is punishable by a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment.

Asylum seekers or those in recognizance, as well as overstayers face a more serious penalty of up to three years in prison, apart from the $50,000 fine.

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Their employers could go to jail for up to 10 years, and fined a maximum of $500,000. A mere failure to properly examine the jobseeker’s HKID card or passport could lead to the employer being fined a maximum of $150,000 and jailed for up to a year.

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T-back Queen, pinagsabihan ng Konsulado

Matagal nang nagbabala ang Konsulado tungkol sa pagpapakalat ng malalaswang litrato o video

Tinawagan at pinagsabihan na ng Konsulado ang Pilipinang domestic helper na nakilala sa bansag nitong “T-Back Queen” dahil sa pagkalat ng kanyang sex video at mga seksing litrato na kinuha habang naglalakad siya sa mga mataong lugar katulad ng Chater Road at WorldWide Plaza.

Sa isang maiksing pahayag,  sinabi ni Konsul Heneral Raly Tejada na nakausap na ng assistance to nationals section ng Konsulado ang Pilipina na ang tunay na  pangalan ay Cherry at sinabihan na itigil na ang pagpapakalat niya ng litrato na nakakabahala sa mga tao sa komunidad.

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Pinangaralan din siya dahil sa pagkalat ng kanyang sex video kasama ang isang lalaking Intsik.

“She apologized for the sex video stating that its private material.  She also explained that it was leaked by a hacker. Nonetheless ATN reminded her these actions have caused shame and disgust to many members of the Filipino community,” wika ni Congen Tejada.

(Nanghingi siya ng paumanhin dahil sa sex video at sinabing pribado niya itong pag-aari. Pinaliwanag niya na ikinalat ito ng mga hacker. Gayunpaman, pinaalala sa kanya ng ATN na ang mga ginawa niyang ito ay nagdulot ng kahihiyan at pandidiri sa maraming Pilipino sa Hong Kong).

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Noon pa mang Hunyo ng nakaraang taon ay naglabas na ng babala ang Konsulado tungkol sa paglalathala ng mga malalaswang litrato o video sa social media. Sa ilalim ng “Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance of Hong Kong” ang ganitong gawain ay isang krimen na maaring parusahan ng hanggang $1 million na multa at pagkakakulong ng hanggang tatlong taon.

Maari ding ituring ito na paglabag sa section 101 ng Criminal Procedure Ordinance ng Hong Kong ana pinagbabawal ang paggawa ng anumang bagay na nakakabahala sa moralidad ng publiko (“outraging public decency”) at magbigay ng masamang ehemplo sa iba.

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Ang parusa sa ganitong paglabag ay pagkakakulong ng hanggang pitong taon. 

Ito marahil ang dahilan kung bakit naglabas na rin ng sarili niyang video si Cherry para humingi ng paumanhin sa publiko tungkol  sa pagkalat ng kanyang sex video. Bagamat inilagay niya daw ito sa  kanyang TikTok account ay naka pribado daw ang setting nito. Hindi daw niya alam kung paano na hack ang account niya at nakuha ang video na ikinalat agad sa komunidad.

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Nakiusap siya sa lahat na itigil na ang pagpasa sa video dahil hindi naman daw niya intensyon na ipakalat ito. 

Kasabay nito ay nag deactivate siya ng kanyang account sa Facebook sa ilalim ng pangalang “T-back Queen” kung saan ay marami siya dating na ipost na mga litrato na nagpapakita sa kanya na pawang seksi ang suot, at naglalakad o nagsasayaw na parang nanghihikayat.

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Pero ang karamihan sa mga mapahangas niyang litrato o video ay kuha ng ibang tao, lalo na ng isang kaibigan niya na tumayo dati bilang personal niyang litratista at tagapagtanggol na Abby Sugar ang pangalan sa Facebook. Sa ilalim ng batas, pati sila ay damay kung sila ang nag post ng mga litrato o video na maituturing na malaswa.

Agad ding tinanggal ni Abby Sugar ang mga kuha niya kay Cherry, at sa ilang post ay nagpahiwatig na dumidistansya na siya dito. Nagpakita din ito ng litrato ng  kanyang passport at ticket, at sinabing umuwi muna siya sa Pilipinas dahil sa pagkadawit sa eskandalo.

Si Abby Sugar ang kumuha ng mga litrato ni Cherry na walang takot na sumampa sa ilang mga sasakyang nakaparada sa Chater Road dahil sa isang car show noong Nov. 7, at nag sexy pose suot ang isang maong shorts na butas ang magkabilang gilid, at may ternong bra na pang-itaas.

Bago ito ay kinuhanan din niya si Cherry habang nakasakay sa MTR at ibinabalandra ang katawan. Pagkagaling sa Chater Road ay naglakad pa ito papunta sa mataong pasilyo ng World-Wide Plaza, na  hindi alintana ang pagkadismaya ng maraming tao sa paligid.

Maraming iba pang litrato ang lumutang na nagpapakita sa 41 taong gulang na Pilipina na ipinagpaparangalan ang katawan, mula sa pag-iinda indayog sa tabi ng dagat, pagsakay sa bus, hanggang sa paglalakad sa mga matataong lugar na kakaunti ang saplot.

Hindi lang sa Hong Kong itinuturing na krimen o paglabag sa patakaran ang mga ganitong gawain, kundi sa Pilipinas din. Kung ang lumabag sa batas ay isang overseas Filipino worker, maari pa itong magsanhi ng pagbabawal sa kanya na mangibang bayan o mag proseso ng panibagong kontrata dahil ito ay kontra sa “Code of Discipline for Overseas Workers.

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Finest of Philippine art on show in Hong Kong

 

BenCab cuts ceremonial ribbon assisted by Gail Hills and Deanna and David Sutherland

Possibly the biggest and most diverse collection of Philippine art is currently on show in Hong Kong, courtesy of Galleria Camaya, and will last until Monday, Nov. 20.

No less than the Philippines’ National Artist for Visual Arts, BenCab or Ben Cabrera, was on hand to open the exhibit on Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre on Kennedy Road, along with Galleria Camaya’s owner, Gail Hills, and  David and Deanna Sutherland of International Care Ministries.

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A sample of BenCab’s priceless works are among those on display at two back-to-back exhibits painstakingly gathered and curated by Hills, who is herself a renowned artist and philanthropist, and former president of Pintura Circle, a group made up of Hong Kong-based Filipino artists.

The exhibits include “This is Philippine Art,” where a collection of the most outstanding works of emerging new artists in the Philippines can be viewed.

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They include Abi Dionisio,  Addie Cukingnan, Ardien Aspan, Armando “Pirasso” de la Cruz, Bullet Dematera, Enrie Nicdao, Gerrico Blanco, Guada Ramos Funtilar, Jaime Gubaton, Jeff Dahilan, Jerrico Eniel, Jojo Ramirez, Jo Uygongco, Julmard Vicente, Keith Paras, Loida Uncianco Bernardo, Maryrose Gisbert, Marius Black Funtilar, Noel Ceriola, Norlie Meimban, Rica Cena, Rosa Maria Manayon, Rene Resella, Stella Tansengco-Schapero, Wence Zyl and many others.

Separately, a solo show  by Kenneth John Montegrande titled “A Light on my Path” and featuring his moonscape series, opened at the same time.

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This is  Montegrande’s 19^th solo exhibition worldwide, and follows his acclaimed show in New York last year. His works are included in the Tokyo Contemporary Museum and are with various international art collectors.

A video of the collection can be viewed here: https://www.facebook.com/gailhk/videos/713357757039780 

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Apart from dabbling in various art forms, most notably ceramic painting, Hills has been collecting Philippine art and identifying outstanding Filipino artists to help them shine on the international stage. Through Galleria Camaya, Hills has mounted shows not just in Hong Kong, but also in Vienna and New York.

Hong Kong being her home base, Hills has also undertaken various activities to help raise money for the underprivileged, particularly migrant workers. During the pandemic she even sewed face masks using the best weather-proof textile, to help finance the needs of clients at Bethune House Migrant Women’s Shelter.

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From the beginning she has given back to the community by donating a big part of the proceeds of her successful exhibits to various causes.

For this show, Hills has earmarked as beneficiaries Bethune House and the International Care Ministries, which has for years raised money for the “poorest of the poor” in the Philippines.

All the art works on display, except for those of BenCab, are for sale, either through direct purchase, or silent bidding.

The show is open to everyone, from 10am to 9pm everyday. The Visual Arts Centre is located at No 7 Kennedy Road, Central.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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Filipina charged with laundering money using 2 bank accounts

 

A Filipina domestic helper whose two bank accounts ended up being used in money laundering, pleaded not guilty when two charges were read to her today at Kwun Tong Court.

Roselyn Eliponga, 30 years old, faces two counts of violation of Sections 25 (1) and (3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance filed by Tseung Kwan O Police.

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Acting Principal Magistrate Daniel Tang set the trial for Feb. 19-20.

He freed her on bail of $500.

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The prosecutor said they will present six witnesses, and will rely on an admission made by Eliponga during the investigation by police.

But her defense lawyer said he will challenge the admission and will present one witness.

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The first charge arose when Eliponga’s China Bank account received deposits from Oct. 5, 2020 to March 11, 2021 that accumulated to $132,030.

The second charge arose due to a deposit of $30,835.18 into another account she had with HSBC.

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In both charges she is accused of handling the money “knowing or having reasonable grounds” that they “directly or indirectly represented any person’s proceeds of an indictable offence….”

According to the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance, the punishment for such an offence are:

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(a) on conviction upon indictment to a fine of $5,000,000 and to imprisonment for 14 years; or

(b) on summary conviction to a fine of $500,000 and to imprisonment for 3 years.

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DH jailed 4 months for stealing $35k in Stanley Prison staff house

 

The theft happened inside a flat at Stanley Prison Staff Quarters (File)

A Filipina domestic worker who admitted stealing $35,167 in various denominations from her employer who works at Stanley Prison was sentenced to four months in jail earlier today, Nov. 17, at Eastern Court.

Susan P. Palacio, 40 years old, a single mother to seven children, pleaded guilty to one count of theft, which happened between July 15 and Oct 1 this year at her employer’s residence at the Stanley Prison Staff Quarters in Stanley.

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The amount lost consisted of HK$30,500 cash, AUD200 and EU500 which Palacio’s employer put inside an unlocked cabinet in his room on July 15.

On Oct. 3, the employer checked the CCTV in his room and saw the helper enter two days earlier at 6:51am, and take something out of the cabinet. After seeing the missing cash, he immediately called the police who arrested Palacio.

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In her cautioned statement, Palacio said she found the money while fixing clothes inside the cabinet. But she insisted that what she took was only HK$10,000 plus EU500 and AUD 200, which she said she had intended to send to her family in the Philippines on Oct. 1, but was unfortunately picked from her backpack.

In court, her lawyer said the helper did not have the means to repay the money lost as she had lost her job, and was not even able to collect her salary for the month of September. She said she was willing to give up her claim to her salary, but that was all she could give back to her employer.

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The defense lawyer asked for a lenient sentence, saying Palacio was the sole breadwinner in her family, and that she sent most of her salary to her seven children back in the Philippines, as she had separated from her husband.

Last Aug. 23, her daughter was bitten by a snake, adding to her worries.

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In sentencing, Magistrate Minnie Wat pointed out that the offence lasted for two months, and involved a serious breach of the employer’s trust. Also, aside from her uncollected salary, the defendant was unable to pay full compensation to the employer.

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After giving due weight to her clear record and admission of guilt, the magistrate said the suitable starting point for the sentence was six months, but after the prescribed one-third discount  for a guilty plea, reduced it to four months.

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