Court OKs bail for Pinay who hid for four years

Shatin Magistrates Courts

A Filipino woman who absconded for four years before facing two charges of breach of condition of stay at the Shatin courts was allowed bail.

In a hearing on June 21, Shatin Acting Principal Magistrate Joseph To Ho-Shing, however, required Grace A. to post $3,000 bail to allow her to be released from custody.

“I would require her to deposit a huge amount, an amount that she would not abandon…as she had absconded for so long,” Judge To said.

Grace’s duty lawyer initially told the court the defendant would be able to raise $1,000 for bail, but eventually said she would be able to post the required amount of $3,000.

Besides the higher amount of bail, the defendant was also instructed to report to the Yuen Long Police station and inform the Immigration Department of any change in her residence 24 hours before such any change takes place.

Grace’s case was adjourned to Jul. 19 for mention.