2 Pinays convicted of human trafficking

MANILA, Philippines - A Hong Kong District Court has convicted two Filipinos for human trafficking, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) reported yesterday.

Janet Ramos of CFO’s Task Force Against Human Trafficking said the court found club owner Carmen Aspuria and her cohort, Mercedes Carigtan, guilty beyond reasonable doubt but deferred the sentencing on Monday pending the psychological evaluation on the two.

“The maximum penalty for human trafficking in Hong Kong is three years imprisonment, but the court decided to subject the two suspects under psychological counseling to determine the possibility of extending the sentence,” Ramos said.

Ramos said Hong Kong Police arrested Aspuria and Carigtan in June last year based on the complaint filed by two of their Filipino recruits.

The victims, whose names were withheld, were recruited by a relative to work as waitresses in Macau. Upon their arrival, however, they were taken to Hong Kong and forced to work as entertainers and prostitutes in Aspuria’s club, located in the Wan Chai district.

The victims relayed their plight to other Filipinos in the district, who in turn reported it to the police. 

Seven other Filipinos were arrested when the police raided Aspuria’s club but were later deported to the Philippines because they were considered victims.

Ramos said the CFO will give the complainants livelihood support when they return to the country. They will also be assisted in filing charges against the relatives who recruited them.