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A fireman and his ex-girlfriend both pleaded guilty at Shatin Magistrates' court to one count of aiding and abetting the making of false representation to an Immigration Officer. An Immigration Department spokesman said today (December 20) that both were on bail pending sentence to be handed down on January 10, 2006.
The fireman, Lai Wai-tak, 33, was charged with one count of aiding and abetting a domestic helper - Ms Siswanti - make false representation that she was to become employed by him. Lai's former girlfriend, Ms Yu Yuk-wan, 31, was charged with one count of aiding and abetting Ms Siswanti to make false representation.
Investigation revealed that in August, 2005, Siswanti Luris, an Indonesian domestic helper, was intercepted at the airport as she intended returning to Indonesia after overstaying in Hong Kong. The maid provided Ms Yu's telephone number for enquiries but Yu was found to be not the contractual employer. The case was then further investigated.
Ms Siswanti first entered Hong Kong to work as a domestic helper in 2000 and was approved to work for an employer until 2004. Prior to the expiry of the employment visa, Ms Yu promised to hire her as her domestic helper but told her that Mr Lai would be her nominal employer. Armed with the supporting documents in name of Mr Lai, Ms Siswanti applied for change of employment in 2004. Approval was given for her to work for Mr Lai at a contractual address at To Kwa Wan but she was in fact working for Ms Yu at Sai Ying Pun. The helper had never seen Mr Lai.
In June, 2005, Mr Lai was requested by the Immigration Department to recover the overdue levy payment for Ms Siswanti. Mr Lai said he had prematurely terminated the helper in December, 2004, and a letter bearing Mr Lai's signature was subsequently received.
It was later found that Mr Lai and Ms Yu had intended to marry but they separated. Mr Lai agreed to hire a domestic helper for Ms Yu and had all along paid for the domestic helper but the helper had never worked for him.
Ms Siswanti was charged with two counts of making false representation that she was employed by Mr Lai. She pleaded guilty to both charges and her case was adjourned to Thursday (December 22) for sentence.
"Under the laws of Hong Kong, it is an offence to make false representation to immigration officers. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalty," the spokesman warned.
Ends/Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Issued at HKT 19:33
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