Filipino domestic helper jailed for four years and 11 months after stealing HK$14m jewelry

A Filipino domestic helper who worked for a former executive director of New World Development, David Liang Chong-hou, was jailed for four years and 11 months after stealing jewelry worth over HK$14 million from the family.

Her two relatives, who helped her pawn the jewelry, not knowing they were stolen, were each jailed for one year and four months.

Deputy High Court Judge Bruce Andrew said Carmelita Galay Nones, 47, breached people's trust and betrayed her employer. She also shamelessly made use of her two relatives, Maricris Galay Nones, 32, and Cristina Noble Alagna, 51.

But he acknowledged that there was evidence to prove Carmelita Nones's mother got sick and later died, and he accepted that the helper committed the crime to get money for her mother's medical expenses.

This was taken into consideration for her final sentence, as well as the fact that she had pleaded guilty.

Andrew also took into account the fact that the two relatives helped police find the lost items and facilitated their return to their rightful owner.

Between June 17, 2018 and September 4, 2019, Carmelita Nones stole around 200 pieces of jewelry worth over HK$14 million at Liang's residence in Deep Water Bay. 

The stolen jewelry included 38 necklaces, 23 bangles, 40 pairs of earrings, 16 bracelets, two gold bars weighing 237g in total, four luxury watches, 25 rings, 31 gold coins, some cash and other accessories. 

Maricris Nones and Cristina Alagna then pawned the jewelry and got millions of Hong Kong dollars, which they returned to Carmelita Nones. 

In July 2019, officers found the pawn records of Carmelita Nones suspicious while patrolling the shop. They initiated an investigation and visited Liang's family two months later. 

Liang and his wife then confirmed that the pawned jewelry items belong to them and said they had never given any of their jewelry to Carmelita Nones. 

Although the police investigation helped the couple find their lost jewelry, the two still had to pay over HK$1.45 million to recover a portion of the lost items.