A judge in Sha Tin, Hong Kong sent a Filipino to prison after he admitted to hiding his girlfriend from authorities for two years. The overstaying former domestic helper became pregnant with the man’s son in 2013.
Sha Tin Principal Magistrate Andrew Ma sentenced permanent resident Ramir Delos Reyes to six weeks in prison. Delos Reyes pleaded guilty to the charge of aiding, abetting, counseling or procuring the breach of condition of stay.
Ma initially sentenced him to two months in jail, but Delos Reyes appealed. In a review hearing on February 17, the judge gave Delos Reyes the benefit of the doubt that he initiated his girlfriend’s eventual surrender.
The judge also fined Delos Reyes HKD 1,000 (PHP 6,082.50) for failing to register the birth of his son right after he was born. Delos Reyes did not appeal the fine.
Meanwhile, Delos Reyes’ girlfriend was sentenced to 14 weeks in jail for overstaying in Hong Kong for five years.
Delos Reyes’ lawyer said he provided shelter for his girlfriend from 2013 to 2015 out of concern for her and their son’s safety. The plan was to surrender after the birth of their son, but Delos Reyes decided to hide his girlfriend for 18 more months.
Eventually, Delos Reyes decided for his girlfriend to surrender and to register his child’s birth.
