Filipino resident charged with lending his HKID card for illegal work

The defendant's HKID card was used by an asylum seeker to get a job

A Filipino resident appeared in Shatin Court on Tuesday, May 14, accused of lending his HK identity card to a Filipina who passed it on to her boyfriend, an asylum seeker, so he could take up illegal work.

In addition, the two are charged with dealing with proceeds from an indictable offense, or money laundering, after the bank accounts in the name of the accused Filipino, Ricardo R. De Austria, were used by the boyfriend of his co-accused, Leila W. Fonte, to receive payment for his illegal work.

No plea was taken at this time, and De Austria’s bail of $1,000 was extended until his next court appearance on Jun 12.

Earlier, Fonte, 56, pleaded guilty to the two charges, as well as six other offences, resulting in her being jailed for 36 months on Apr 29.

According to a statement issued by the Immigration Department on the same day, Fonte was also convicted of allowing her HKID card to be used by an overstayer to work illegally in a restaurant and to secure  a loan, and to make false representation to Immigration officers.

In the first charge brought against her and De Austria, Fonte is accused of conspiring with Mohammed K. Shah on a unknown day in July 2022, to use De Austria’s HKID so Shah could secure a job.

In the second charge, Fonte and De Austria are accused of dealing in the total sum of $414,791.33, held in De Austria’s bank accounts in Hang Seng Bank and CMB Wing Lung, knowing that the money were proceeds from a crime. The said offence was said to have taken place between Aug 6, 2020 and Sep 7, 2022.

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According to the Immigration statement, Shah and Mely Ibon, who used Fonte’s HKID card to work illegally as a dishwasher in a restaurant, were both sentenced to 15 months in jail. They pleaded guilty to using someone else's HKID card and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

In addition, Ibon was convicted of conspiring with Fonte to commit fraud  

During her sentencing, Fonte’s lawyer said the accused was a former domestic helper who married a local and got divorced years later. She worked as a cleaner, earning $14,000 a month while fighting stage 3 cervical cancer.

In 2016, she lent her HKID card to Ibon, who used it to secure a job in a restaurant between July 2018 and September 2021. Ibon was paid a total of $596,611.40 during this period, which went into Fonte’s HSBC account. Ibon paid Fonte $2,500 monthly for the favour.

Fonte then used the fake bank statements to support her application for a dependant visa for Shah, which was approved.

Apart from this, Fonte also made Ibon use her HKID card to secure a loan of $10,103 from United Asia Finance Limited between June and August 2018. The two were charged with conspiracy to defraud, which they both admitted in court.

Under Hong Kong laws, conspiring to use an identity card belonging to another person is punishable by a maximum fine of $100,000 and up to 10 years in jail.

Conspiring to launder money could fetch a jail term of up to 14 years and a maximum fine of $5 million.

 

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Immigration HQ, Kwun Tong HKID card replacement center to move to TKO

 

The new Immigration headquarters at 61 Po Yap Rd., Tseung Kwan O will open on Jun 11

The Hong Kong Immigration Department headquarters will start providing services at its new location in Tseung Kwan O on Jun 11, and along with this, the Registration of Persons Office in Kwun Tong will move its identity card services to the same place.

However, the Registration of Persons – Hong Kong Office in Wan Chai will continue to provide services at its current address.

Immigration officers disclosed the new arrangements at a news conference today, May 16.

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All immigration services currently provided at the Wan Chai headquarters, including the processing and extension of employment visas, applications for permanent residency and other changes in status, will be made at the TKO offices from Jun 11.

In addition, ID card replacement services provided at its temporary office in Kwun Tong will be moved to the TKO headquarters.

The officers said residents who have applied to replace their ID cards on or before Jun 8 at the temporary office in Kwun Tong can still collect their cards there. However, they will have to go to the TKO office if they are picking up after this date.

The new Registration of Persons Office in TKO will cater to applicants seeking first registration of ID cards, replacement of ID cards due to defacement or loss, and amendment of registered particulars on ID cards.

The TKO office will also handle the replacement of new smart ID cards during extended service hours.

The Kwun Tong ID card replacement centre will also move to TKO

According to immigration, its TKO operations will also include the processing of HKSAR passports, visa-related identity cards and return-home certificates. All residents may also start booking appointments from May 27 for their travel document needs.

To further improve service delivery, the Immigration Department will increase the number of self-service stations for applying and collecting documents from passport applicants. The number of stations on Hong Kong Island will rise from two to six, and in the new TKO headquarters, there will be ten stations. Additional staff will be deployed to assist those unfamiliar with the machines.

Similarly, Hong Kong passport holders who previously opted to collect their passports at the Wan Chai Travel Documents (Issue) Unit of the current headquarters can do so only until Jun 8.

Collections scheduled from June 11th onwards will have to be made at the TKO headquarters or the Central Government Offices in Harbour Building, depending on the issuance date of their notice.

The new Immigration headquarters will move to 61 Po Yap Road, Tseung Kwan O Hong Kong. To get there, take the MTR to TKO station, and take exit B1, or from Tiu Keng Leng statio, take Exit A2.

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Filipina DH, Italian employer charged over alleged illegal work

 

Shatin court was told that the employer was in hospital during Tuesday's hearing

A Filipina domestic helper appeared in Shatin Magistrates Court yesterday, charged with four counts of doing odd jobs at a food trading company, and was allegedly helped each time by her Italian employer.

The case against Juvy B. Sonido, 38 years old and Carlos A. Perez Nunez, 51, was postponed until June 11 after the court was told that the employer was in hospital. Both defendants' bail of $1,000 each was extended until the next hearing.

Sonido, whose employment contract with Nunez was approved by the Immigration Director on Aug 19, 2021, is alleged to have performed odd jobs at Sabatino Hong Kong Limited, which is described on its website as an importer, manufacturer and distributor of truffles.

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She is alleged to have worked at the said company four times starting on Oct 21, 2021, contrary to her visa condition which forbade her from taking up any employment without approval from the Director of Immigration.

Nunez, described in the HK IFBA's (Imported Food & Beverage Association) website as Sabatino HK's director, allegedly aided and abetted Sonido’s illegal work each time.

Sonido is charged with four counts of violating sec 41 of the Immigration Ordinance (Cap 115)  and Regulation 2 of the Immigration Regulations, which forbid anyone who is on employment visa in Hong Kong to take up jobs other than what is stipulated in their contract.

Nunez faces four counts of aiding and abetting illegal work, which is contrary to section 89 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Cap 221) and section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance (Cap 115) and by virtue of Regulation 2 of the Immigration Regulations.Under section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance, anyone found to have worked, whether paid orunpaid, without approval from the Immigration Department, is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for two years.

On the other hand, sec 89 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance provides that “any person who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission by another person of any offence shall be guilty of the like (same) offence.”

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Filipina accused of stealing cash, jewelry denied bail

 

Accused was denied bail at Eastern Court

A Filipina domestic helper accused of theft involving cash and 12 pieces of jewelry failed in her bid to apply for bail when she appeared at Eastern Magistracy yesterday, May 14.

Johna C. Jinon, 40 years old, was returned to jail after failing to convince Magistrate Ivy Chui to grant her bail. She is due to appear in court again on June 3.

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Jinon is charged with one count of theft which she allegedly committed between February 2022 and May 4, 2024, when she was arrested, at 12/F, Unique Villa in Happy Valley.

She is accused of stealing $16,510 in case, six bracelets, two necklaces, three rings and one watch, all belonging to Chong Hon-kay Hank.

The alleged offence is contrary to section 9 of the Theft Ordinance, and carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail.

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Child pornography charges against Filipina withdrawn

 

The charges that were dropped accused the Filipina of filming her female ward inside the toilet  

A 26-year-old Filipina domestic worker was released unconditionally at Kwun Tong court today after two charges of child pornography were withdrawn by the prosecution against her for insufficiency of evidence.

A hearing set down for May 16 was abandoned as a result.

But by then, Gina (not her real name) had already been in detention for nine days, having been arrested after the alleged second incident had taken place on May 5.

According to the allegations, Gina had taken videos of a naked girl using her smartphone during two separate incidents, inside the toilet of a flat in Sau Mau Ping. The first offence allegedly happened on Feb 23 this year, and the second, on May 5.

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The two incidents were supposed to be in violation of Section 3(1) of the Child Pornography Ordinance, Cap. 579 of the laws of Hong Kong.

But at today’s hearing before Magistrate Winnie Lau, the prosecutor applied to withdraw both charges against the Filipina, saying there was not enough evidence to pursue the case. No further details were mentioned.

The prosecutor also asked that the hearing earlier set for Thursday, May 16, be abandoned. Magistrate Lau agreed, and ordered Gina’s immediate release.

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7 people arrested for alleged illegal work at care homes

Imported workers may only work at care homes provided in their employment contract (File)

Four imported workers were arrested by Immigration agents yesterday, May 13, on suspicion of working at homes for the elderly which are not their contractual place of work. Three persons in charge of the institutions concerned were also arrested.

According to a statement from the Immigration Department, the territory-wide operation was launched after it received reports about several homes for the elderly where imported workers, mostly from the Mainland, were supposedly deployed in violation of their contracts.

The arrested imported workers comprised one man and three women, aged 32 to 52. They were held on suspicion of breaching their conditions of stay by performing duties at non-contractual homes for the elderly.

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The persons-in-charge of the homes where the said illegal work was carried out comprised three women, aged 42 to 65. They are being held on suspicion of aiding and abetting those who took up work in violation of their condition of stay in Hong Kong.

Immigration warned that imported workers admitted on an employment condition must remain under the direct employment of the same employer for the specified job and in the specific workplace(s) as stipulated in the Standard Employment Contract. They cannot be employed by other companies or subcontractors or change employer, post or place of work, unless provided in their contract.

Anyone who contravenes any of these conditions shall be guilty of an offence, and could be penalized with a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties.

Employers of illegal workers face the highest penalty of up to 10 years in jail and a maximum fine of $500,000. The High Court has decreed that the employer of an illegal worker should be given immediate custodial sentence.

The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also be held criminally liable.

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DAB calls for curbs on loans to FDHs

DAB wants the govt to limit the amount of loans extended to FDHs (RTHK photo)

The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong has called on the government to set a limit to the amount of money foreign domestic helpers are allowed to borrow from lending companies.

The call made earlier today was partly in reaction to the revised rules on the code of conduct for employment agencies which the government released last week.

Speaking at a press briefing, lawmaker Frankie Ngan said he and his fellow DAB members have received complaints from employers who were frustrated with having to deal with collectors chasing after helpers who failed to repay a loan before leaving Hong Kong.

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Ngan suggested the government require financial companies to come up with a credit database that will show at a glance whether a particular domestic helper already had outstanding loans. 

This was the same device drawn up voluntarily by financing companies several years back, for the purpose of cross-checking whether a particular helper asking to borrow money from them was still paying off an earlier loan. 

But judging from the number of FDWs who still got mired in debt because of over-borrowing from various financial institutions, the system did not seem to have worked.

The Consulate through then Consul General Antonio Morales also sought to enlist the help of Hong Kong legislators to back a similar plan, and also to call on the government to reduce the legal interest charged on loans, which was then at 60% per annum.

The second proposal was taken up by the Legislative Council eventually, and as of Dec 30, 2022, the statutory interest rate cap had been lowered from 60% to 48%, and the extortionate rate further reduced to 36% from 48%.

Meanwhile, Ngan also urged authorities to further explain the changes under the new code to agencies, employers and the workers.

"The DAB requests the government to do more promotion and education for the agencies, especially as it is a new regulation for them,” he said.

He added it would be difficult to implement the new rules unless everybody concerned had a deep understanding of what they entailed.

Among the controversial provisions of the revised code that took effect on May 9 was one that requires agencies to include in their service agreements with employers a breakdown of the services that they are providing, along with the corresponding fees.

This is to allow employers to demand a full or partial refund of the fees they paid in case the FDHs recruited for them by the agency self-terminates the contract, or is prematurely terminated.

While employers stand to benefit from this provision, agency representatives called it unfair, saying early termination of contracts could be due to several reasons, over which they do not have any control.

Migrant workers, on the other hand, fear that a rash of termination could ensue if employers are able to recover service fees, as these used to deter some of them from sacking their domestic helpers on a whim or at the slightest excuse. 

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BUSINESS IDEAS FOR OFWs: Low-cost business training

 

Photo from PTTC Facebook page

Note: With this article, The SUN embarks on a series of articles to encourage OFWs to aspire and prepare themselves to start a business back home, not just to make better use of their savings but also improve their lives as they create jobs back home and, in the process, help push economic development in the country.

Do you want to start a business in the Philippines?

First, you start learning how, so as to avoid the pitfals and mistakes that have caused failure for many who plunged into the challenge unprepared.

The Philippine government’s Philippine Trade Training Center’s Global MSME Academy (PTTC-GMEA)  - the training arm of the Department of Trade and Industry - has lined up low-cost courses that aim to teach the basics of running a business, such as accounting, to increase the chances of them succeeding.

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Even OFWs in Hong Kong can join because most of the courses are livestreamed online, allowing trainors to interact with the trainees who can be anywhere in ther world.

During the International Food Exhibition (IFEX) Philippines at the World Trade Center Manila last May 10-12, for example, the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) and  the PTTC-GMEA presented free sample seminars to fair-goers.

The seminars were entitled Reinventing the Fresh Tuba Culture to Connect with Global Markets, Exporting Food Products to the European Union, and Understanding the Importance of Intellectual Property Policies.

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In the regular schedule, the courses for the rest of May include Logistics Management on May 20-21, Emotional Intelligence in the Modern Workplace on May 21, Introduction to Production Management on May 28-29, and Basic Debt Management on May 30, and many more.

For June, the lineup includes Accounting for Non-Accountant on June 1, Digital Marketing: Transforming the way We Promote Business on June 18, Effective Business Communication on June 18, Internal Quality Audit on June 19-20, Basic Cash Flow Management on June 22, and many more.

To avail of these courses, those interested would need to register – for free. This is done only once, to enable them to log in for any course they want to join in the future.

Once registered, they can browse through the courses available on any day, with the corresponding prices, which range from P1,200 to P3,000.

To register, press this: https://online.pttc.gov.ph/

For more information, press this: https://pttc.gov.ph/

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OFWs join HK celebration of Mother’s Day

 

Palma (with mic) addressing her fellow mothers in Saringit ti Laoag group

Mother’s Day in Hong Kong started out fine and sunny in the morning, but dark and rainy in the afternoon. Despite the abrupt change in the weather, many families dared not skip celebrating one of the most joyous occasions in the city.

Queues were seen forming early in flower shops, as family members rushed to buy their moms’ favorite blooms to show their love and appreciation.

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By mid-day, the crowds had flocked to restaurants, and according to reports, the boost in patronage made many eateries reach around 90% capacity, the biggest since the pandemic.

Many other families had chosen to celebrate across the border that by early evening big crowds gathered at various ports of entry, including the one in Futian and Shenzhen Bay.

Ptra Edelyn Vallo leads honorees at the Jesus the Living God church

Though far from their loved ones, migrant mothers also celebrated the occasion, mostly through extended chats with family members back home, and special meals or trips with friends in Hong Kong they have become to regard as family.

Several organizations did not miss the chance to celebrate those among them who made the brave decision to go abroad so they could provide a better future for their children.

Among them was the Saringit ti Laoag City Association of Hong Kong, which held its party on the rooftop of Queensway building in Admiralty.

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According to their guest speaker, Marites Palma of Social Justice for Migrant Workers, many other organizations celebrated Mother’s Day at the same venue.

Palma told her fellow mothers that they should practice self-love sometimes, and not be consumed by their desire to provide well for the family they left behind.

“Once in a while pasayahin din nila ang kanilang sarili. Bumili sila ng damit, at kumain sa restaurant,” said Palma, who is herself a mother to a daughter who just graduated from college. (They should please themselves once in a while. Buy a dress, eat in a restaurant).

She also advised them strongly about standing up for their children who suffer abuse of any kind, even at the hands of their other parent.

Palma gave examples of what she called “ulirang ina” or exemplary mothers by calling on three members of the group who managed to send all their children to school, even if in the process they had stayed in Hong Kong far longer than they had intended.

One of the sharers had worked in the city for 34 years, the other, 24 years; and the last, 10 years.

“Soon, magpo for good na sila,” Palma reported quite happily. (Soon, they will be going home for good).

Palma's daughter, Levi, wrote this sweet Mother's Day message for her mother 

One big celebration that did not materialize was the one that Gabriela Hong Kong, a foremost advocate of migrant women’s rights, had planned to hold starting at 4pm on Chater Road.

Gabriela chair Shiela Bonifacio said in her invitation that it was to honor “the greatest mothers” among migrants.

But apart from the rain and the dark clouds that formed across most parts of the city in the afternoon, a bigger problem loomed. Dolores Balladares, one of the honorees and chair of United Filipinos in Hong Kong, suddenly started experiencing pain and numbness in her left arm that Bonifacio was compelled to call an ambulance to take her to the hospital.

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Luckily, Balladares recovered after just a few hours, and has since been escorted back home to rest.

Back-to-back exhibit featuring Dans & HK-based artists to open Jun 5

A rare exhibit of the works of a master and her daughter is coming to HK on June 5

The works of the inimitable Araceli Limcaco Dans, widely regarded as one of the Philippines’ best portrait artists, will be the highlight of another ground-breaking exhibit by Galleria Camaya, to be held from June 5-10 at the Visual Arts Centre on Kennedy Road.

Consul General Germinia Aguilar-Usudan will lead the ceremonial ribbon-cutting at the show’s opening at 6pm on June 5, along with Galleria Camaya’s owner Abigail Camaya-Hills.

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Also featured in the exhibit titled “A Calado Legacy: A Mother and Daughter Exhibit” are the works of the grand dame’s daughter, Marcy Dans Lee, who is herself a highly respected artist and illustrator.

This is the first time the works of the highly regarded mother-and-daughter duo are being exhibited together in Hong Kong.

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At the same time, there will be a group exhibition of Hong Kong-based Filipino artists from across a wide spectrum of backgrounds and professions.

A long list of artists with HK connection will be featured in the back-to-back exhibit

“The Visual Narratives” will feature the works of professional artists, those by a talented group of overseas Filipino workers called “Guhit Kulay,” young Filipinos born to expatriate parents, and altruistic Filipinos who paint to raise funds for charity.

Also part of the collection are the works of former Hong Kong OFW turned professional photo journalist Xyza Cruz Bacani.

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The project by Galleria Camaya is in collaboration with the Philippine Association of Hong Kong, whose chosen charities will benefit from a portion of the proceeds from the show.

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Driver gets 6 months’ jail for drug apparatus

 

Place in Wanchai where Filipino was intercepted. (Google Maps photo) 

A Filipino driver has been jailed six weeks for possession of apparatus used for inhaling dangerous drugs.

Steven Sarmiento, 49 years old, had earlier been issued a warrant of arrest after failing to show up for his sentencing last April 26.

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Magistrate Minnie Wat apparently based the sentence on a report from the probation officer that has ordered in the last hearing, to see how best to treat the Filipino.

Sarmiento was charged with possession of apparatus fit and intended for the inhalation of dangerous drug, a violation of the Dangerous Drug Ordinance.

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The case stemmed from the police finding in his possession a glass bottle into which two plastic tubes and a plastic straw were inserted, a glass tube with one end shaped like a bulb, and a plastic straw fit and intended for the inhalation of a dangerous drug.

Also seized from him was 0.0l gram of a solid substance containing methamphetamine (also known as shabu or ice), which was in the plastic straw.'

The items were found in his possession during a routine police check on pedestrians on Matheson Street in Wanchai last Dec. 20, 2023. 

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12 persons arrested in latest anti-illegal work sweep

Some of the 12 people arrested in the latest Immigration campaign

A four-day sweep on suspected haunts of illegal workers resulted in the arrest of 12 persons, according to a statement released by the Immigration Department on Friday, May 10.

Those arrested in the operations from May 6 to 9 comprised eight suspected illegal workers, three employers and one aider and abettor.

In one operation, six locations including premises under renovation and restaurants were targeted, and six suspected illegal workers and two employers were arrested.

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The suspected illegal workers comprised four men and two women, aged 30 to 58. One man held a recognizance form which prohibits him from taking up work. One of the women possessed a forged  Hong Kong ID card.

Two women, aged 47 and 52, were also arrested on suspicion of employing the six.

In separate raids across Western District, two suspected illegal workers, one employer and one aider and abettor were arrested.

The suspected illegal workers comprised one man and one woman, aged 41 and 47.

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One man, aged 43, was suspected of employing the illegal workers while a 60-year-old woman was suspected of aiding and abetting a person who breached the condition of stay in Hong Kong. Both were arrested.

Immigration again warned that breaching a condition of stay like taking up unauthorized employment could result in the offender being prosecuted and upon conviction, sentenced to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment.

The jail term could go up to three years if the violator is an illegal immigrant, is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land.

Those found to possess a forged Hong Kong identity card or one belonging to another person face a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine of $100,000. The same penalty may be imposed on someone who lent the HKID card to another who used it to take up illegal work.

Employers of illegal workers face the severest penalty of a maximum fine of $500,000 and imprisonment of up to 10 years.

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