2 domestic workers acquitted of illegal dentistry as Hong Kong authorities accused of staging a ‘show’ during arrests

Two Filipino domestic workers, Jucen Lihaylihay Naong and Rowena Marcaida Cerdina, have been acquitted of practising illegal dentistry in Hong Kong after their defence argued that authorities staged a "show" during their arrest. The women were among six defendants arrested by the Immigration Department in August last year on suspicion of running an unlicensed dental clinic in Sham Shui Po.

The defence raised concerns about the arrest procedures, stating that the officers did not identify themselves, did not have a search warrant, and conducted questioning in English without a Tagalog interpreter. Additionally, the defence alleged that the suspects were handcuffed without justification and forced to line up for photos and videos during their arrest.

Magistrate Pang Leung-ting ruled that the pair had no case to answer, noting that the Immigration Department's actions were "grossly disproportionate" and appeared to be staged for public consumption.

Brief written by urgent.news from Hong Kong Free Press's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.