Bangladeshi illegal worker jailed
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Immigration Department (ImmD) investigators received a referral from the Hong Kong Police Force this month to further investigate an illegal employment case. Enforcement officers arrested a Bangladeshi male worker, aged 30, who was collecting and conveying scrap metal at a construction site in Tin Shui Wai. Under caution, he admitted that he collected the scrap metal for sale with monetary reward. Upon identity checking, he produced for inspection a recognisance form issued by ImmD, which prohibits him from taking employment or establishing or joining in any business, and further investigation revealed that he was a non-refoulement claimant.
The arrestee was charged at Shatin Magistrates' Courts yesterday with establishing business while being a person who remains in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration after having landed in Hong Kong unlawfully. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment.
The ImmD spokesman warned that, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order are prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. The Court of Appeal has issued a guideline ruling that a sentence of 15 months' imprisonment should be applied in such cases.
The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for three years and a fine of $350,000. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence. According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. Otherwise, the court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. The maximum penalty for failing to inspect such a document is imprisonment for one year and a fine of $150,000.
Ends/Friday, September 30, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:55
Issued at HKT 15:55
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