A Filipino domestic worker found guilty of one count of theft was fined HK$2,000 (about US$250), which was 10 times the value of the items she stole from a Wellcome supermarket in Yiu Po Mansion in Tai Wai in Hong Kong’s New Territories.
Leah Merogenia, a single mother in her 30s and sole breadwinner of the family, was arrested on July 19 for stealing one packet each of oatmeal, blueberries, candy dates and cashews, two packs of dumplings, two packs of pork and a pack of chicken fillet, worth a total of HK$199.30, sunwebhk.com reported.
On November 1, Merogenia pleaded not guilty when the case came up at a Shatin court. She said she had simply forgotten to pay for the items because she was concerned about her sick son.
However, a supermarket staffer said he saw her put the items in her bag. He said she did pay for two packets of fishballs, but not for the items in her bag.
After she left, the staffer stopped her and inspected her bag, where he found the unpaid-for items. He called the police and Merogenia was arrested.
On November 3, the prosecutor said he doubted that Merogenia forgot to pay for the items and he accepted the staffer’s testimony. The woman was found guilty and fined HK$2,000 instead of imprisonment, because of her clear record.
Her male employer, who was at the hearing, reportedly took her back home.
According to Hong Kong’s Theft Ordinance, the maximum sentence for theft is 10 years’ imprisonment, but a jail sentence is not mandatory.
Nakupo….ugali ko pa nmn di gumamit ng cart, lalo pag siksikan ang supermarket para mapabilis ang pag groceries. Nilalagay ko nalang sa shopping bag na dala ko. Kelabgan talaga presence of mind.
come what may separate personal troubles, worries and problems from work. AT. BEDTIME WE HAVE CHANCE AND TIME FOR OUR PERSONAL ROUTINES.
Lesson learned the toughest and most embarrassing way 🙁
Wag kasi ilagay sa bag ang mga pinamili, may pushcart or shopping basket naman na ginagamit eh.
It So sad to heard that she was a Filipino,because she is my "kababayan"..
Para sa akin ang ganon ka rami na nalagay sa bag nya Hindi balak nyang nakawin at lalong NASA gitna ng problema si kabayan ..at is a pa sa palagay ko di naman ata yong para Kay kabayan sa amo naman ata nya yon na wala lang sya sa sarili gawa ng problema at lalong walang ka tuwang sa buhay wag natin husgahan ka agad kasi di tayo ang NASA kalagayan nya subukan kaya nyong isoot ang sapatos nikabayan para alm nyo ang boong kwento ng buhay nya ..dito rin sa HK pag kasalanan ang nagawa komplito ang pangalan piro pag maganda at nakakatulog sa mga shikwa papyri lang piro walang pangalan ng pinay na nakalagay..just saying lang po sori sa dinaka gusto sa sinabi ko..
Guilty or not guilty…xa lng ang nkakaalam ng totoo.✌
Ang dami niyang nilagay sa bag niya,hindi man lang siya nagtaka kung bakit yon lang ang binayaran niya?
Nora V. Huxtable no one knows the real stories,,, sometimes the language barrier give favor to local residents specially chinese to chinese.
Kung Isa lng siguro baka sakali nakalimutan nbayaran nga nya Yong ibang item bakit Yong madami Hindi kakahiya Tayo ano
Next time kabayan use their tray to put the items you collect to buy..so you dont forget the stuff upon reach counter..i understand you.but nangyari na..sa kanila thief parin yan
Mary May Forlife andito din ako sa hk pero dapat isaisip natin na me duty tayo isipin ang prob pag nasa higaan ka na wag dalhin sa labas baka masagasaan ka o ano mangyari sayo! Gaya nya buti d nakulong!
Wag ilagay sa bag ang d mo pa nabayaran na groceries ..kung minsan kasi la ka ring intention na magnakaw gawa lang ng pagkakalimutin mo…mag ingat lagi.
Nangyayari din talaga, minsan sa dami ng iniisip. Sa experience ko tshirt sa pamimili ko sinampay ko sa balikat ko, nabayaran ko yung mga hawak ko. Medyo malayo na ako , nagulat ako dahil may nakalagay sa balikat ko, takbo akong pabalik at sabi ko sorry di ko sadya I forgot I put on my shoulder. Nagpasalamat sila dahil bumalik ako para magbayad.
Jejemon english na ang uso ngaun miss!mashado mo pinupuna ung spelling as long as nababasa understood na un????????hay tao nga nman!!!
Hahaha….true…ung criticized mo correct spelling ba….hay naku…
Lyn Garces wow!may critic dto!madam,pakicheck din po spelling correction mo sa comment mo.pti ni po ang grammar mo.wag maxadong magmagaling!
KOREKSYON..FELLOW IS WHO?"S"
Ay.grabee pati english ayusin daw!perfik!petmalu..lodi…
Mary May Forlife .hahhaa kaya nga bhe..as if naman napakalaking sala ang magkamali sa spelling…naka abbreviate n yan kaya kaht pa mali spelling aslong na naiintindihan at natumbok mo ang topic..underdtood n un..bah mataas ata pinag aralan mo miss ltn graces kaya mstado kang mayabang..meeehhhgaaddd
Why shes puting inside her bag?
There is troly …….i really cant imagine to go to welcome and buy those stuff then not using the grocery trolly.