Police arrest man suspected of splashing unknown liquid on women

 

Police display the flask and clothes seized from the suspect

Hong Kong police yesterday announced the arrest of a construction worker suspected of having splashed unknown liquid on the backside of at least 10 women wearing light-colored pants on Hong Kong’s streets for about a month.

Officers said in a news conference that the 56-year-old man was arrested while about to splash liquid on a 17-year-old girl’s buttocks on Great George Street in Causeway Bay on Friday night.

The suspect was arrested at the scene for outraging public decency and was held for questioning. His clothes and a vacuum flask which allegedly contained the liquid were seized from him.

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“According to initial investigations, the suspect carried the liquid around in a vacuum flask, and poured it onto the palm of his hand before quickly approaching his victim from behind,” Senior Inspector Yee Hiu-yin of Mong Kok district crime squad said on Saturday.

The police said the victims described the unknown liquid as odourless and slightly warm, and tinged with a bit of color. Test results on the liquid would determine what it was.

The officers warned that outraging public decency is a serious offence, and is punishable by up to seven years in prison.

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The suspect is believed to be behind similar incidents reported by nine women, aged 16 to 32, between January 20 and February 18 this year. All the previous incidents happened in Mong Kok.

However, an Instagram page created to shed light on the attacks show many other similar incidents taking place across the city, usually in densely populated areas like Causeway and Wanchai, apart from Mong Kok.

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All the women reported being splashed with warm liquid on their buttocks while walking on the streets. By the time they realized what had happened, the culprit had already fled.

“Some victims even reported being attacked twice within an hour,” Yee said.

The suspect was identified after police reportedly went through CCTV footage from the area, before before conducting the operation in Causeway Bay on Friday.

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The officers said they had seen a number of people posting on social media about the incidents, and have urged witnesses to report to Mong Kok crime squad.

The Instagram page created to raise awareness over the incidents posted documented stories indicating that no less than 100 such attacks were carried out only since February 7 or within a span of three weeks.

An interactive map posted on the account showed the attacks were carried out across Hong Kong, but nearly half of the number of cases took place in Mong Kok.

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High Court rejects serial offender's bid to be freed

 

The High Court has declared legal the continued detention of a Filipino asylum seeker who refuses to leave even after his application had been disapproved by the High Court, and has defied a deportation order that dates back to Oct. 19, 2018.

Deputy High Court Judge Jonathan Wong made the ruling for the Court of First Instance after Naguimbing Esmiralde, 57 years old, filed a writ of habeas corpus seeking his release from 252 days of detention.

Last Sept. 20, 2023, Esmiralde -- who has been an overstayer since his two-week tourist visa expired on Nov. 16, 2013 --  refused to board his repatrition flight, claiming to be sick, forcing the Immigration Department to return him to jail.

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The writ had questioned the legality of detaining Esmiralde until the government could send him home to the Philippines.

In a decision issued last Feb. 2, Judge Wong concluded: “I am satisfied that the Applicant's detention, and likely foreseeable future period of detention, has been and will remain lawful.”

Judge Wong cited a long list of reasons, including Esmiralde’s separate convictions in 2015 for shoplifting, breach of condition of stay and possession of a dangerous drug, for which he had been fined or jailed.

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He added that Esmiralde absconded 13 times -- failing to report for immigration recognizance, jumping police bail and failing to appear in court – and could abscond again if released.

“On all of the occasions except three, he disappeared until he was arrested by the police, either for being a wanted person or for suspected offenses. Each period of disappearance was typically months long, with the longest stretching to more than 14 months,” Judge Wong said.

Esmiralde also told the court he needed to be released to rejoin his wife and five children – all asylum seekers due for deportation and receiving allowances from an NGO – but Judge Wong said: “Facing the very likely fact that the entire family will eventually be removed, it seems to me that the family as a whole should recognize that the desire to be reunited can and should be achieved outside Hong Kong.”

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These reasons had been cited earlier by Judge Russell Adam Coleman, who had made a similar ruling last Aug. 25, 2023.

“Many of the matters relied on by the Applicant were considered by Coleman J in the Decision. I have considered them again in the light of the now longer period of the Applicant’s detention.... I find myself reaching similar conclusions as those reached by the learned Judge,” he said.

Esmirade launched his quest for asylum when he wrote to the Immigration Department on May 30, 2015 that he wanted to file a non-refoulement claim. However, he failed to submit the required documents, so the application was considered withdrawn.

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In February 2017, he sought to reopen his claim but was rejected on March 3, 2017.

He appealed to the Torture Claims Board/Non-refoulement Claims Petition Office (“TCAB”) and the Court of First Instance on Nov. 8, 2017 and Jan. 16 2023. His application was dismissed by CFI on Aug. 25, 2023.

On Oct. 9, 2023, Esmiralde filed a “Subsequent Claim”, the processing of which the Immigration Department accorded priority, so that the screening interview was conducted on Jan. 26 2024. 

That claim was rejected on Feb. 1, 2024, so he is looking to appeal to the High Court again.

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MTR offers half-fare today

MTR and LRT passengers pay only half the usual fare today

All passengers on the MTR network can enjoy half-priced fares today, Saturday, with the  railway company saying it is its way of saying “thank you” to its customers.

Today’s offer extends throughout Hong Kong, including trips to as far as Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau stations and can be enjoyed by passengers taking the MTR, Light Rail and MTR buses running in Northwest New Territories.

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Passengers can also enjoy the 50% discount together with any interchange discount, Fare Saver discount and the 25% discount on connecting journeys with Monthly Pass.

However, it is extended only those paying with Octopus cards or using their QR codes o the MTR, and not to those who pay with contactless credit card or debit card.

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In anticipation of a higher volume of passengers, the MTR said it will run more frequent trips throughout the day, with of 370 train trips being added across six lines - Island, South Island, Tsuen Wan, Kwun Tong, Tuen Ma, and East Rail.

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The half-fare day replaces the rebate system introduced by the MTR to make up for previous train service disruptions, in which passengers were allowed to claim back three percent of their fares per journey.

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The railway operator is obliged to declare one "half-fare day" when it accumulates HK$25 million in fines for disrupted services.

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14 people arrested in anti-illegal work raids on 55 locations

 

Some of the suspected illegal workers are led away for questioning by Immigration officers

Another series of territory-wide operations against illegal work by the Immigration Department resulted in the arrest of 14 people – 12 of them suspected to be illegal workers and two employers.

The raids, carried out from Feb 19 to 24, targeted a total of 55 locations, 40 of them in the Western District. The remaining 15 were carried out in bars, a guest house, premises under renovation and retail shops.

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In the Western District operation, three men aged 26 to 55 were arrested. Immigration gave no further information as to their visa status.

In the other raids, nine suspected illegal workers were arrested, all women, aged 28 to 54. Seven of them hold recognisance forms, which prohibit them from taking any employment. In addition, one woman was found to be in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card.

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 Two people suspected of employing them were also arrested.

Immigration again warned that it is illegal for anyone to take up any job, paid or unpaid, without authorization from the Immigration Department. This includes visitors or tourists, or recognisance holders or asylum seekers, and overstayers.

Visitors who are found to have taken up work illegally may be fined up to $50,000 and jailed for up to two years.

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The maximum prison term goes up to three years plus $50,000 fine if the violator is an asylum seeker or overstayer.

Those who possess or use someone else’s Hong Kong identity card face a maximum fine of $100,000 and up to 10 years' imprisonment.

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Employers are penalized the most, with the prescribed maximum fine of $500,000 and jail term or up to 10 years.

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PinoyCare in new DMW warning against job offers by visa consultancies

 

PinoyCare is the only visa consultancy firm linked to the latest warning on illegal recruitment

The Department of Migrant Workers has issued another warning against visa or immigration consultancy firms offering jobs to Filipinos in such places as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Italy and Malta without first securing a licence from the Department.

The warning came with a photo of PinoyCare Visa Center Inc., one of the companies linked to Prisca Nina Mabatid, who according to the National Bureau of Investigation during a Senate committee hearing last Feb. 13, has been charged with large-scale illegal recruitment and syndicated estafa.

The DMW said it is illegal for these unlicensed visa consultancy firms to offer jobs abroad.

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Anyone who has been promised an overseas job by a visa or migration consultancy firm is encouraged to report to the DMW so all those behind the illegal employment offer, including their agents or staff, can be prosecuted.

This is the second time the DMW has served public notice that visa or immigration consultancy firms are not allowed to offer jobs abroad in whatever guise unless they are licensed recruitment agencies.

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In September last year, eight visa consultancy firms were named in a similar advisory including Opportunities Abroad, another company linked to Mabatid.

The others were Triumph Global Recruitment Services, JM International Services, PWG, Cis Group Manpower Sp, Gateway Visa Solution, Mars Immigration Inc. and Maplekraft Management Consultancies.

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The warning said: “Ang mga visa consultancy firm ay walang lisensya o authority mula sa Department of Migrant Workers na mag-recruit ng mga OFW para magtrabaho sa ibang bansa.” (Visa consultancy firms do not have a license or authority from the Department of Migrant Workers to recruit OFWs to work abroad.

Mabatid has been summoned to appear at the next hearing of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers on Feb. 28, to explain why she should not be held in contempt for failing to appear in an earlier hearing o Feb. 13.

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The Senate committee is looking into the complaints of some 150 Filipinos, including about 20 in Hong Kong, who claimed they were enticed by Mabatid to apply for student visas to Canada on the pretext that they would go there on a work-study program. Each paid a processing fee of no less than P100,000.

All the complainants said they were given a long list of requirements that were disclosed only after they had paid the processing fee to the company, and were made to sign a memorandum of agreement forbidding them to ask for a refund, whatever the outcome of their application.

After payment, the complainants said they were given a run-around by staff at the company so that they never got close to actually lodging a student visa application with the Canadian consulate or embassy.

When they pressed for the return of their money, a number of the complainants were issued a letter from a lawyer of Opportunities Abroad, warning them that they had breached the no-refund clause in their agreement, for which they could be made to pay P500,000 in damages.

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Gilas Pilipinas dominates HK in FIBA Asia Cup debut

Gilas players acknowledge the cheers of fans after their victory. (FIBA photo)

Gilas Pilipinas, led by Kai Sotto and cheered on by Filipino fans, dominated China-Hong Kong, 94-64, at the Tsuen Wan Stadium last night (Feb. 22) to launch its campaign in Group B of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers.

After taking it easy in the first three quarters, the blue jerseys blew the game open in the final quarter when they tightened their defense, dominating the boards, 56-32, while attacking the goal with cool efficiency, scoring in 46.8-percent of their shots.

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“Tambak. Sobrang relax pa ang laro ng Gilas,” said Randy Erno, one of the Hong Kong-based Filipinos who travelled to Tsuen Wan to watch the game.

“Pinalapit lang ng konti nung 2nd quarter, inupo na ng matagal si Dwight D Ramos at  Japeth Aguilar.  Sobrang mismatch pag andun sila,” he added

Sotto booked a double-double, making 13 points and 15 rebounds, while top-scoring Justin Brownlee finished with 16 points, followed by Kevin Quiambao with 15, and Jamie Malonzo with 11 points.

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With the win, Philippines leads the tournament’s Group B with 1-0, along with New Zealand, which beat Taipei, 69-89, at Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium.

In Group A, Thailand beat Indonesia, 73-56, in Bangkok’s Nimibutr Stadium, while Australia beat Korea, 85-71, in Bendigo Red Energy Arena in Australia.

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In Group C, China beat Mongolia, 80-49, in Shanxii Provincial Stadium while Japan beat Guam, 77-56, at Tokyo’s Ariake Stadium.

The tournament continues today with Iran meeting Qatar in Tehran, Kazakhstan clashing with India in Astana, Iraq dueling with Saudi Arabia in Baghdad, Syria fighting with Lebanon in Damascus, Bahrain testing United Arab Emirates in Manama, and Jordan clashing with Palestine in Amman.

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The Philippines resumes it campaign on Sunday when it clashes with Taipei at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

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Pinay detained for three months gets 3-day prison sentence

 

Filipina was arrested at dawn in this neighborhood. 

A homeless former domestic helper who had been in jail for three months on charges of stealing an Octopus card with a stored value of $70 and overstaying her visa, was sentenced yesterday (Feb. 21) to a total of three days in prison.

Magistrate Li Chi-ho penalized F. Lacaba, 35 years old, with a one-day prison term for the Octopus card theft and two days for overstaying, to be served consecutively.

Lacaba was thus immediately released as her detention had exceeded her actual sentence – a concern raised by her duty lawyer when she appeared in the previous hearing at West Kowloon Court last Jan. 10.

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Lacaba, homeless and sleeping in a Sham Shui Po park since she was terminated by her employer on Sept. 24 last year, was arrested at 5:03 am last Nov. 23 after she was spotted by a police officer on patrol on Yu Chao St., Sham Shui Po.

When the officers found a personalized Octopus card in another person’s name among her possessions, they arrested her and took her to the nearby police station.

She was convicted of the Octopus card theft after a trial, with Magistrate Li rejecting her story that she had just picked up the card from the street and was intending to turn it over to the Sham Shui Po MTR station, which was still closed when she was arrested at about 5am. 

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The $70 value in the Octopus card was untouched.

In the previous hearing, she pleaded guilty to breach of condition of stay for failing to leave within two weeks after she was terminated by her employer.

Lacaba was working as a domestic helper whose contract began on April 15, 2023. However, her employer terminated her five months after she started working.

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She was unable to find a new employer within the two weeks she was allowed to stay on, and had been sleeping at a park at night when she was arrested.

Her lawyer said she did not apply for bail because she had nowhere to stay.

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