A Filipino tourist accused of being part of a pickpocket syndicate who stole more than HK$100,000 (P602,668) from their victims in Hong Kong, was arrested at Hong Kong International Airport.
Josephine V., believed to be in her late 40s or early 50s, was brought before the Eastern Magistrates Courts on March 7 after charges of theft was filed against her, in a report by Hong Kong News.
An accomplice, a certain R. Azarcon, is also in police custody.
“This is a syndicate offense,” the prosecutor told Eastern Principal Magistrate Bina Chainrai, adding that the first incident took place at Sogo Department Store in Causeway Bay on June 23, 2015. The second incident happened on February 16 inside Wan Chai MTR station where Josephone allegedly stole HK$78,800 from a train passenger.
“The defendant was stopped as she was attempting to leave Hong Kong via the airport,” the prosecutor said, who opposed granting of bail to the Filipino suspect.
“This is a serious offense and it involves a substantial amount of money,” she said.
Judge Chainrai set the next hearing for the case on March 31 as the police were conducting further investigation.