Former helper jailed for selling fake clothes, breaching terms of stay

November 27, 2020

Eastern Magistrates' Court in Sai Wan Ho

A former Filipina domestic helper was sentenced to two months imprisonment after she pleaded guilty to selling fake branded clothes and breaching the terms of her stay in Hong Kong.

Eastern Court Magistrate Bina Chainrai imposed the jail term on J. Tome, 40. She was sentenced to three months imprisonment for each charge but was discounted by a third because of her guilty plea, and the terms were to run concurrently.

Tome had been in custody since Customs and other government officials arrested her on Sept. 13. On that day, she was found selling shirts and shorts near the World Wide Centre at 22 Des Voeux Road in Central.

An officer reportedly heard her yelling at passersby to buy garments priced at HK$20 per pair of pants and HK$25 per shirt. When officers apprehended her, she said the clothes were the property of a Pakistani man.

Customs officials also checked the garments in her possession: 33 pairs of Champion shorts, three Champion shirts, 10 Nike shirts, 7 Tommy Hilfiger shirts, 7 Gap shirts, 2 American Eagle shirts, and one shirt each from the brands Gucci, Under Armour, Puma, and Reebok. Upon checking, they confirmed the branded clothes were fake.

The defendant’s most recent employment contract ended on Aug. 25 this year. Her counsel said she had already finished four contracts in Hong Kong and was allowed to extend her stay up until Sept. 14 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tome’s lawyer also said she committed the offence due to financial difficulties. A mother of four and a wife to an unemployed husband, Tome was the sole breadwinner of her family.

The lawyer added Tome was promised HK$500 in exchange for selling the garments. The defendant also said she did not know that she was not allowed to sell goods or do business outside of her registered addresses while she was on a visitor’s visa.