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A Hong Kong resident, aged 42, who had employed a Mainland illegal immigrant as a domestic helper, was sentenced to jail at Shatin Magistrates' Courts on October 2, 2009.
On April 23, 2009, police officers found the Mainland illegal immigrant at the defendant's residence during investigations. The defendant and the illegal immigrant were both arrested and referred to the Immigration Department for investigation.
Upon investigation, the Mainland woman confessed that she had entered Hong Kong illegally in September 2008. She was introduced by a middleman to work for the defendant as a domestic helper with a monthly wage of $2,000. She was convicted of illegally remaining in Hong Kong and was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment in April 2009.
Despite the defendant's denial of knowledge about the illegal immigrant's status of stay in Hong Kong, she was charged with one count of aiding and abetting an illegal immigrant to remain in Hong Kong and another count of employing a person not lawfully employable. She was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment on each count, running concurrently.
"It is an offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is a fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years. Any person who, having landed in Hong Kong unlawfully, remains in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director, is liable to a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for three years. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalty," an Immigration Department spokesman said.
Ends/Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:44
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