OS freed on bind-over arrangement

 

Shatin Court (photo from Google Maps)

A Filipina tourist who had overstayed her visa for three months and then applied for asylum, walked free from Shatin Court today after she agreed to be bound to a promise not to commit any offense in the next 18 months.

If she does, Charmaine Icaranom, 31 years old, would be fined $2,000.

The bind-over arrangement came after the prosecution offered no evidence in their breach of condition of stay case against Icaranom.

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Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong charged her $500 as court costs, deductible from her cash bail.

With the bind-over in force, prosecution withdrew the charge against her.

Icaranom, who was given until Dec. 6, 2023 to leave after she arrived as a tourist, was charged with violating Section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance when she remained in Hong Kong until March 12, 2024.

She has since claimed non-refoulement to seek protection from being deported back to the Philippines until her asylum application is resolved by the Immigration Department. 

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DH gets 8 months in jail for theft

 

Taikoo Shing, where offense was committed

A Filipina domestic helper was jailed for eight months today after admitting that she stole 11 pieces of jewelry from her employer’s flat in Tai Koo Shing.

Principal Magistrate Don So handed down the sentence on Dorothea Suedad, 47 years old, right after she pleaded guilty at a hearing in Eastern Court.

Suedad was charged with theft for stealing one bracelet, two pieces of gold and 10 watches, between Jan. 1 and June 19 this year.

TAWAG NA!

In a separate case, Magistrate So returned Arturo Patricio, 48 years, to jail custody after a bail review since the latter did not make a new bail application.

A police complaint accused Patricio of “unlawfully and maliciously” wounding a local, To Po-keung, last June 26 at the 2^nd floor of Neng Heng Sheng House in Sheung Wan.

His next court date is scheduled for Sept. 24.

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2 FDHs arrested for hawking food on footbridge

One of the 2 arrested FDHs is led away by immigration agents

Officers from the Immigration Department and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) have arrested two suspected illegal workers, both of them foreign domestic helpers.

According to a statement issued on the government website yesterday, the two women, aged 44 and 47, were caught selling food on a pedestrian footbridge on Sunday, in the vicinity of Mong Kok Road, where the Labour Department’s headquarters is located.

The two were arrested on suspicion of breaching their condition of stay by engaging in illegal hawking and selling food on the footbridge.

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FEHD officers seized some hawker equipment and food in the vicinity that were apparently abandoned.

Immigration warned that FDHs should only perform domestic work in their employer’s address as stated in the employment contract. They cannot carry out any non-domestic work, or take up, or join or establish any business other than the contracted domestic work, whether paid or unpaid, in Hong Kong.

Anyone found guilty of violating a condition of stay faces a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties.

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Business-minded DH gets court reprieve

The accused Filipina got off lightly after appearing in Shatin Court

A Filipina domestic helper accused of violating her condition of stay by putting up a business selling food in Wanchai, got off lightly at the Shatin Court today by being bound over with a promise not to reoffend for 18 months.

Prosecutors offered no evidence against E. Domingo, aged 57, and subsequently withdrew the charge of breach of condituon of stay, which violates the Immigration Ordinance, after she agreed to be bound over.

Magistrate Andrew Mok told her that this will preserve her clean record as long as she would keep her promise for 18 months. If she reoffends, however, she would be fined $1,000 and would be punished for the new offense.

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Magistrate Mok also told her to pay $500 to cover court costs, to be taken from her cash bail.

The case was filed by the Immigration Department, accusing her of establishing a business selling food in Wanchai, which violates her condition of stay imposed on her by Immigratuon on May13, 2022.

The condition permitted her to stay in Hong Kong to work only as a domestic helper for a specific employer at an address stated in the work contract they signed jointly.

In another courtroom in Shatin, another breach of condition of stay case was adjourned, this time involving illegal work.

Jenny Guzman, aged 44, appeared in court accused of doing odd job duties in Shau Kei Wan last Feb. 22, which is prohibited under the  terms of her visa as a domestic helper.

 Deputy Magistrate Li Cheuk-wai scheduled the next hearing for Sept. 17 for verdict.

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Philippine Robotics team scores big at Asian competition in HK

The 4-school team relishes podium glory

The Philippine Robotics Team, comprising students from Quezon City High School, Betty Go Belmonte Elementary School, Claret School of Quezon City and Batangas State University, copped three major awards at the 2024 First Lego League Asia Open Championship held on Aug 3-4 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The team won the Best Robot Design Award (QCHS/BGES), Best Innovation Project Award (Claret School) and Best Team Model Award in Explore category (BSU).

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During a courtesy call on Consul General Germinia Aguilar-Usudan  ahead of the competition, team members from QCHS and BGBES were assured of the Consulate’s full support and were encouraged to give the contest their best shot.

Congen Usudan (middle) sent off the team with good vibes during their courtesy call

Congen Usudan also commended their families and mentors for encouraging the students to demonstrate excellence in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education in the country and abroad.

More than 480 teams from 24 countries took part in the international competition that integrates education, technology and creativity.

They competed in four categories: robot game, robot design, innovation project and core values. During the competition, they were asked to use their imagination and creativity to integrate STEM elements, placing equal emphasis on learning and fun.

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Miss Hong Kong 2024 goes to Baguio

 

Photos show the 3 Miss HK candidates in action during their Baguio visit

Three candidates in the Miss Hong Kong 2024 pageant went to Baguio City recently to do some photo shoots at the invitation of the Philippine government, as part of the bid to promote Cordilleran art.

Ellyn Ngai, Candice Wong, and Zoie Tse were accompanied in their trip on July 18 to Aug  4 by TVB artists Ms. Luisa Maria Leitão and Ms. Phoebe Pang, with support from the Philippine commercial attaché to Hong Kong, Roberto B. Mabalot, Jr.

The visit and photo shoot were at the invitation of the Philippine Trade and Investment Centre – Hong Kong of the Department of Trade and Industry and organized by TVB Broadcast Limited.

PINDUTIN DITO

Throughout the eight-day shoot, the candidates were able to witness the talents of outstanding Filipino Cordilleran women and artists. 

They were also taken to the  city’s iconic attractions and local businesses such as the Baguio Cathedral of Our Lady of the Atonement, OTOP Hub, the Tam-awan Village and the Cordillera School of Digital Arts, Inc.

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Apart from this, the ladies took part in a variety of activities including learning the catwalk from transgender beauty queen A.R. Duque, and visiting a local school to learn animation production.

The Miss Hong Kong pageant was established in 1946 and acquired by TVB in 1973.

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Filipina in drug trafficking case detained to await next court date

 

Place where Yap was arrested

A Filipina has been returned to jail custody after a drug trafficking case against her was adjourned for Sept. 29 at the Eastern Court.

Ma. Divina Yap, 49 years old, appeared at Eastern Court on Friday (Aug. 9) before Principal Magistrate Don So but the prosecution asked for an adjournment to wait for laboratory test results to identify and quantify the dangerous drug seized from her.

A complaint filed by anti-triad police on Aug. 3 did not specify the dangerous drug she supposedly trafficked.

PINDUTIN DITO

The complaint just stated that she “unlawfully trafficked in a dangerous drug” when she was arrested last Aug. 1 at the basement of a building on High Street in Sai Ying Pun.

In a separate case at West Kowloon Court, Gian Edward Aldea, 35 years old, was freed on a $2,000 bail after he was charged with drug possession and overstaying his visa.

The drug possession case arose after police allegedly found a plastic bag containing 0.85 gram of methamphetamine hydrochloride (otherwise known as ice or shabu) in his possession when he was stopped last April 11 at Lo Tak Court in Tsuen Wan.

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During an investigation at the police station, it was also discovered that Aldea was a visitor whose visa had expired on April 1 but he did not leave Hong Kong until he was arrested on April 11.

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13 persons arrested in latest anti-illegal work sweep

 

One of the arrested workers is  led to a waiting van

Nine suspected illegal workers and four employers were arrested in the latest territory-wide operations by agents of the Immigration Department conducted over four days, from August 5 to 8.

According to a statement issued by Immigration, 58 target locations were raided, including an industrial building, undergoing renovation, and restaurants.

The suspected illegal workers comprised three men and six women, aged 25 to 64. Among them were two women holding recognisance forms, which prohibit them from taking any employment.

PINDUTIN DITO

In addition, two men and three women were found to be in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card, respectively.

Two men and two women, aged 38 to 56, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested.

Immigration warned that anyone who violates the condition of stay in Hong Kong is guilty of an offence and will be liable for prosecution and penalty. The punishment gets more severe if the culprit is subject of a removal or deportation order, an overstayer or was refused permission to land.

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Visitors are also advised that they should not take up any job, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment.

Employers of illegal workers face the harshest sentence of 10 years in jail, and $500,000 in fine.

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Jobless Pinoy detained on burglary charge

 

West Kowloon Courthouse

A jobless Filipino is now in jail awaiting his next court date after appearing at West Kowloon Court for burglary on Thursday (Aug. 8).

Salvador Bermejo, 30 years old, is accused of entering the Morris Sofa store in Olympian City 2 in Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon, and stealing a laptop computer worth $8,400.

PINDUTIN DITO

Prosecutors asked for adjournment to allow for more investigation and legal advice.

Magistrate Li Chi-ho set the next hearing for Sept. 25.

Under the Theft Ordinance, burglary is punishable by up to 14 years in jail.

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The complaint filed by police cites a section in the ordinance that defines burglary as entering any building as a trespasser and steals or attempts to steal anything or attempts to inflict on any person any grievous bodily harm. 

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Filipina told to pay $44K for running unlicensed job agency

 

The accused was sentenced at Kwun Tong Court

A Filipina was ordered to pay $44,400 in fines, penalties and compensation after she pleaded guilty at the Kwun Tong Court of helping run an unlicensed employment agency.

Gilda Flores Li, 64, was ordered by Deputy Magistrate Tobias Cheng in a hearing Thursday (Aug. 8) to pay $12,000 in fines and penalties and $32,400 in restitution to a victim who complained against her to the Labour Department.

After an investigation, the department charged her in court last May 14 with violation of sections 51(1) and 50(6) of the Employment Ordinance for assisting in the management of an employment agency from Aug. 1, 2021 to Nov. 3, 2023.

PINDUTIN DITO

This ordinance prohibits any person from operating, managing or assisting in the management of an employment agency unless he or she holds a license or certificate of exemption, or is an associate of the licensee.

Violators can face a fine of up to $350,000 and imprisonment of up to three years.

Li is not new to such prosecution.

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On Jan. 5, 2018, Li was convicted after a trial also at Kwun Tong Court of overcharging a client, and ordered to pay $22,000 --$12,000 in compensation and $10,000 in fine -- within three months, or face a jail term.

Li, who jointly owned Quality Consultants Agency with her husband, was penalized for overcharging a Filipina domestic helper who applied at her company to work as maid in Russia.

In the trial, she maintained that her company’s service was securing an invitation from Russia, which is required by the Russian Consulate to grant a commercial visa to domestic helpers so they can can go to Russia.

But Magistrate Andrew Mok Tze-chung concluded: “I don’t find the defendant a credible and reliable witness. I do not accept that QCA, of which she is a partner, is not an employment agency.”

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Goree whitening cream again causes mercury poisoning to user

 

One of the Goree products found to contain dangerous mercury levels

Hong Kong Customs has again warned the public to stop using three types of Goree whitening cream, one of which reportedly caused a woman to be hospitalized for mercury poisoning.

This time around, employers were specifically put on notice to check if their foreign domestic helpers have been using the tainted products, and to stop them if they do.

PINDUTIN DITO

In previous warnings about the products between November last year and February this year, a number of those who had to be taken to hospital for mercury poisoning after using Goree day and night cream were all Filipina domestic helpers.

Customs said in a statement issued Thursday that laboratory tests showed the three Goree products contained between 23,000  to 24,000 times the allowed level of mercury.

This product was found to have 24,000 times more than the prescribed mercury level

In a press release issued Thursday, Customs identified the products as Goree Lycopene (avocado and aloe vera), Goree Day & Night Beauty Cream and Goree Gold Beauty Cream.

The 43-year-old patient whose nationality was not disclosed, was diagnosed with proteinuria (or excessive levels of protein in the urine) after using two skin-whitening cream products for a few weeks. Test on her urine and blood samples showed the presence of mercury levels far exceeding the allowed range.

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She remained hospitalized as of this writing  but was reported to be in stable condition.

Customs said the level of mercury in the product the patient had used was 23,000 parts per million, or 23,000 times more than the allowed limit. Later, Customs discovered that the levels of mercury in two other types of whitening cream products of the same brand reached 24,000 ppm or 24,000 times the maximum permitted limit.

All the products were also found to bear warnings or cautions only in English, without Chinese translations, which is said to be in contravention of the Consumer Goods Safety Regulation (CGSR), a subsidiary legislation of the CGSO.

Following this finding, Customs conducted a raid on a shop in Central where the patient had bought the mercury-laden product, and seized a total of 352 boxes of the three types of whitening creams. The retailer was also served with a prohibition notice, forbidding it from further selling the products.

A 40-year-old man managing the shop and a 45-year-old saleswoman were arrested in connection with the case, but were subsequently released on police bail pending further investigation.

The press statement said further arrests have not been ruled out.

However, a follow-up operation in other districts failed to yield any of the prohibited products.

The third Goree product that could lead to kidney failure after prolonged use

The government advisory said chronic exposure to mercury can cause damage to the nervous system and kidneys, potentially causing renal failure. Symptoms may include tremors, irritability, insomnia, memory deterioration, concentration difficulty, impaired hearing and vision, and change in the taste function.

When buying beauty products, the public is advised to stay away from dubious sources and only patronize reputable shops. If they start to feel unwell after using beauty products they must stop using the said products and seek medical attention immediately.

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DH fined, threatened with jail if she shoplifts again

 

Store where Filipina was caught stealing chocolate

A domestic helper who admitted stealing two packs of chocolates was not only fined $300 today when she pleaded guilty to theft at the Eastern Court, but was also warned that she will be jailed for 11 weeks if she reoffends.

Helen Fagaragan, 53 years old, pleaded guity after a charge of violating section 9 of the Theft Ordinance was read to her.

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After she admitted stealing the chocolates on Sept. 29 at a Bestmart 360 store on Lee Garden Road in Causeway Bay, Principal Magistrate Don So imposed on her a $300 fine and 11 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for three years.

She need not serve her jail sentence, as long as she does not commit another crime within the period.  If she does, the penalty for the new offense will be added to her jail sentence.

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2 Pinay boxers win bronze medals at Paris Olympics

 

Petecio (in red) loses to her Polish opponent in a split decision (AFP photo)

Two Filipina boxers fell short of a shot at the gold medal when they both lost their bouts against their respective opponents at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Still, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas, will each bring home a bronze medal, which takes the Philippines’ total haul in the Games to 4, after the two golds won by Carlos Yulo in the men’s floor and vault finals.

An Olympic gold in boxing remains elusive for the Philippines as all of its five boxers who made it to Paris have already bowed out. Three failed to win any medal, but the two did.

Petecio, a silver medallist in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, lost in a split decision to Poland’s Julia Szeremeta in their women’s 57kg boxing semifinal bout early this morning (Manila time).

Four judges scored it 29-28 in favor of Szeremeta, while one had it 29-28 for Petecio.

The 32-year-old Filipina took the first round with crisp punches and patient attacks, but her 20-year-old opponent landed solid punches in the final minute of the match, securing her victory.

“Akala ko akin to this time, sobrang grabe yung tiwala ko sa sarili ko na makukuha ko siya. But yun nga, medyo hindi tayo [pinalad] ngayong gabi,” (I thought it was already mine as I was very confident about it. But, I was a bit unlucky tonight).Petecio said in an interview after the match.

But she said she remained thankful to the Lord because of her good showing in the match.

Szeremeta will face Chinese Taipei’s Yu-ting Lin in the final. Lin defeated Turkiye’s Esra Yildiz Kahraman in the semifinal via unanimous decision, her third straight victory in the tourney.

Villegas takes bronze in her first Olympic outing (Reuters photo)

Villegas, meanwhile, earned bronze in the boxing women’s 50kg in her Olympic debut. Her bid for the gold was halted by second-seed Buse Naz Cakiroglu of Türkiye, who progressed to the final by a unanimous decision.

Villegas faced an uphill battle in the first round but stunned everyone when she knocked down Cakiroglu in the second. The Filipina followed that up with some strong punches but failed to take that round, or the third and last one.

Cakiroglu, who won silver at Tokyo 2020, will get a crack at the gold when she faces Wu Yu of the People’s Republic of China tomorrow, Friday.

Both Filipinas will receive P2 million each from the Philippine government for their third-place win in line with Republic Act 10699.

Under the same law, gold medalists are given an incentive of P10 million while silver winners get P5 million.

The Philippines’ medal quest does not end here, as it has four more athletes in the wings – weightlifters Vanessa Sarno and Elreen Ando, and golfers Dottie Ardina and Bianca Pagdanganan.

$13 biscuit costs Pinoy $300

 

A $13 pack of Nutella biscuits that a Filipino construction worker shoplifted has cost him $300, not to mention hours off work, at the end of his theft case today at West Kowloon Court.

Prosecutors withdrew a charge of theft against J. Salcedo, 37 years old, after he agreed to a bind-over, or a promise not to commit the same offense for 12 months, or he will be fined $1,000.

Principal Magistrate Ivy Chui set the conditions for the bound-over and released Salcedo with a clean record.

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However, she deducted $300 from his cash bail to pay for court costs.

Salcedo found himself charged with violating the Theft Ordinance after police filed a complaint accusing him of picking up the cookies last June 17 at a Seven-11 store at level 5 of the airport Terminal 1 in Chek Lap Kok, Lantau and leaving without paying for it.

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Health Dept warns against using Z FIT slimming product

 

This slimming product was found to contain banned drug ingredients

The Department of Health urged the public Tuesday not to buy or consume a slimming product labelled as "Z FIT” (100% natural) after tests showed it contained undeclared controlled and banned drug ingredients.  

Acting on a tip-off the DH obtained samples of the product through a social media platform and upon testing at the Government Laboratory, they were found to contain sibutramine and frusemide, which are Part 1 poisons under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138).          

Sibutramine was once used as an appetite suppressant but since November 2010, pharmaceutical products containing the ingredient have been banned in Hong Kong because of an increased cardiovascular risk.

Frusemide on the other hand is a diuretic used in the treatment of high blood pressure, heart failure and oedema. Common adverse effects include feeling thirsty, dizziness, headaches and fast or irregular heartbeat.       

According to the Ordinance, all pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong before they can be legally sold in the market.

The illegal sale or possession of unregistered Part 1 poisons is  criminal offence for which the maximum penalty for each offense is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.

The DH called on those who have purchased the slimming product to stop consuming it immediately. If they feel after consumption they should consult healthcare professionals immediately.

The public may submit the products to the Drug Office of the DH at Room 1804-1806, 18/F, Wing On Kowloon Centre, 345 Nathan Road, Kowloon, during office hours for disposal.

The DH advised everyone not to buy products of unknown or doubtful composition, or consume products from unknown sources.

People who want to lose weight should maintain a balanced diet and exercise regularly. They should consult a doctor before taking any medication for weight control.

For more information, they may visit the website of the Drug Office of the DH for "Health message on overweight problem and slimming products" and "Slimming products with undeclared Western drug ingredients.”

 

DH gets 10 months’ jail for conspiring to launder $1.2M

 

The hearing was held at Eastern Court

Another Filipina domestic helper was sent to jail today for money laundering after she admitted at Eastern Court that $1.2 million in crime proceeds passed through her bank account.

Marcela Awingan, 38 years old, was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment  by Principal Magistrate Don So for violation of the Organuzed and Serious Crimes Ordinance. 

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A police complaint dated June 14 accused Awingan of dealing with property that came from crime.

The charge was based on the flow of $1,231,539.07 into and out of her Standard Chartered Bank account between March 12 and April 13, 2023.

She did the offense “togther with persons unknown,” the complaint added.

It asserted that she dealt with the property which “… in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, represented any person’s proceeds of an indictable offense.”

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