Four foreign nationals claiming refugee status were jailed by magistrates’ courts on Friday and Saturday on charges of working illegally after being caught in raids last month and this month.
A Pakistani man, aged 45, who lodged a non-refoulement claim, was arrested during a raid earlier this month by Immigration officials while conveying vegetables in Sha Tin in the New Territories, according to a government statement.
Another Pakistani, plus an Indian man and an Indonesian woman – aged from 31 to 46 – were also arrested for illegal work during a joint operation by police, immigration and labour officials in August and September. These three, who are also claiming refugee status, were found conveying goods for a logistics company in Kwai Chung and washing dishes in two restaurants in Tsueng Kwan O and Kwun Tong.
The four illegal workers were charged at Shatin and Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts and sentenced to jail terms ranging from 13 to 15 months’ respectively.
Four employers suspected of employing the illegal workers were also arrested. One employer is awaiting a court hearing, while inquiries are still going on into the other cases.
Read: Pakistani jailed for 15 months for working illegally in HK