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A Hong Kong resident who pleaded guilty to two charges relating to the illegal deployment of a foreign domestic help was jailed for four months after appearing in Sha Tin Magistrates' Court today (August 24).
Lee Shu-Ping, 58, was convicted of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the breach of condition of stay.
On July 24, a female foreign domestic helper, Lomban, was arrested for manning a food shop in Hung
Hom. The owner of the shop, Lee, who was also the contractual employer of Lomban, was also arrested for investigation on the same day.
Lomban admitted that she had been illegally deployed by Lee to perform odd jobs at the shop.
Lomban was charged with one count of breach of condition of stay (taking up unapproved employment). On July 27, she was sentenced to four months¡¦ imprisonment suspended for two years.
"The helper should perform only domestic duties for the employer specified in the contract approved by Director of Immigration. The employer should not require or allow the helper to carry out any non-domestic work, or to perform domestic work at any address other than that specified in the contract," an Immigration Department spokesman said.
"Similarly, the employer should not require or allow the helper to carry out any work for any other person. Offenders will be liable to criminal prosecution and on conviction to a fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for two years. Any aider and abettor will have the same punishment.¡¨
It is also an offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is a fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years.
Ends/Friday, August 24, 2007
Issued at HKT 20:51
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