Hong Kong pop star’s Pinay maid charged with stealing

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong pop star Jacky Cheung’s Filipino maid has been charged with allegedly stealing a letter and three photos from the singer, news reports said yesterday.

The maid has pleaded innocent to one count of theft and claims the incident is a misunderstanding, Ming Pao Daily News reported.

Cheung said he had planned to only fire the maid, identified as 30-year-old Preslyn Catacutan, but reported the matter to police after she claimed she was falsely accused, Ming Pao said.

The lawyer for the domestic helper, who appeared in court Tuesday, said his client accidentally mixed Cheung’s items with her own personal items, the newspaper said.

The mass-market Apple Daily reported that the maid remained in custody because she couldn’t afford the 1,000 Hong Kong dollar (about P7,000) bail.

Foreign maids earn a minimum monthly wage of HK$3,400 (P23,800) in Hong Kong.

The maid’s trial was scheduled to start Dec. 7, Apple Daily said.

Theft carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment in Hong Kong.

Tens of thousands of foreigners work as domestic helpers in wealthy Hong Kong. Most are Filipinos, with smaller numbers from Indonesia, Thailand and Nepal.

A spokeswoman for Cheung didn’t immediately return a reporter’s call seeking comment. Court spokeswoman Lina Ting said she couldn’t immediately provide information on the case.