A Filipino domestic helper has been sentenced to two months in prison after she confessed to stealing HKD50,000 worth of luxury goods from her employer, the founder of comestics group Sa Sa.
According to Apple Daily (as translated by EJI), Irene Canoneo Gomera, the 34-year-old helper, stole bras and branded handbags, among other valuable items, in a series of thefts at her boss’ home on Island Road in Deep Water Bay.
Her boss, Eleanor Kwok, the co-founder of cosmetic retailer Sa Sa International, fired the helper on finding the stolen items in her bedroom.
As this was Gomera’s first time working in Hong Kong as a domestic helper, her defence said the domestic worker gave into temptation. Her lawyer claimed that she could not “control her urge to steal”, given that she’d never been exposed to so many valuable items beforehand.
Gomera is a single mother of two, and her children are currently being looked after by their grandparents.
As well as handbags and bras, Gomera reportedly nicked T-shirts, socks, umbrellas and phone chargers.
