Hong Kong domestic workers arrested for having sold abortion drugs

Eleven domestic workers were arrested in Hong Kong, suspected of “destruction of children” and illegal abortions, police said.

The women, in the thirties and forties, were gathered after being found at the home of his employer with a dead fetus, later confirmed at least 28 weeks.

Police also found that the drugs they suspected were abortion pills – which finally led them to the other 10 women.

Five has since been charged, while five are on deposit and one has been placed in pre -trial detention for a more in -depth investigation. If they are found guilty of the most serious accusation, of the destruction of children, they could be sentenced to life.

The investigation began in June after paramedical paramedics were called upon to help a 39 -year -old servant, who collapsed at his employer’s home.

Paramedical paramedics then found the hidden fetus in a laundry basket in his room, the police said, who was not born alive.

Questioned, the woman admitted to having bought the pills from a friend – another foreign domestic worker.

She was arrested in July, the police finally carried out a series of raids between July 29 and August 8, during which eight other domestic workers were detained.

Inspector Lam Ho-Yin, from the Crime Squad from the Yuen Long district, said that he did not seem to be a union on crime. Instead, the preliminary results showed that “the 32 -year -old foreign national assistant … brought them back from another country” and have sold them.

It is not clear what every woman – whose national police would not reveal – was accused.

An abortion is legal in Hong Kong, but only in strict conditions – in less than 24 weeks when pursuit of pregnancy would damage the life of the mother, or if health is at risk, or in the event of a severe fetal anomaly. More than 24 weeks, abortions can only be carried out if the mother’s life is in danger.

People found guilty of having provided or consumed drugs for abortion can face seven years in prison.

Police asked employers on Friday to ensure that their domestic workers speak to a healthcare professional if they were pregnant.

Hong Kong welcomes some 368,000 foreign national workers, according to government statistics. Most – around 55% – come from the Philippines, while 42% come from Indonesia.

Most earn a monthly minimum wage set by the government of 4,990 HK (US $ 636; £ 473).