One Day in Jail for Overstaying Pinay
A former domestic worker was sentenced on January 19 to one day in prison after pleading guilty to overstaying in Hong Kong after her employment was terminated in February 2015.
Kowloon City Courts Magistrate Veronica Heung Shuk-han said that despite Florinda C.’s clear record previously, there was no “special circumstance” to depart from the usual sentence and impose
a suspended sentence to the defendant.
The prosecution said Florinda was arrested on April 2, 2015 by police officers in an apartment in Yau Ma Tei in Kowloon.
“There was no record that she sought extension of stay in Hong Kong from the Director of the Immigration and she also had no more contract as a foreign domestic helper in Hong Kong,” the facts of the case as read to the defendant said.
She was arrested while police officers were conducting an anti-dangerous drugs operations, and armed with a search warrant, they went into the defendant’s place along Portland Street.
She was found standing in front of the door of the toilet. The police then also discovered that she was overstaying in Hong Kong.
“The defendant is convicted of the charge,” said Judge Heung after Florinda’s guilty plea.
In mitigation, the Filipino’s lawyer said his client had only overstayed in Hong Kong for only 21 days and that she had a clear record previously.
(Source: HongKongNews.com.hk)