A Filipina said drug use had made her steal from stores when she pleaded guilty to theft charges in the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Gladys de Vera, who was arrested by police after she stole five bottles of perfume worth about HK$2,000 (US$255) from the same cosmetics shop in Kowloon’s Mong Kok on two consecutive days, sunwebhk.com reported.
The court heard de Vera went to a SASA store on Nathan Road on January 4 and took two bottles of perfume worth HK$788 and left without paying. The next day, she went to the same store and took three bottles of perfume worth about HK$1,120 and left.
The defense counsel assigned by the Duty Lawyer Service reported that the drug report sought by the magistrate indicated de Vera tested positive for drug use. Meanwhile, a psychiatrist confirmed the defendant had drug-induced dementia that was probably caused by substance abuse.
Magistrate Woo Huey-fang said the court would request a drug treatment report before sentencing.