A migrant domestic worker in Singapore stole 20 pieces of gold jewellery worth over $16,200 and £900 in cash from her employer between January and February 2022. She later met an acquaintance to sell the jewellery, but he disappeared with the items. She also transferred $650 to her family in Indonesia and kept the remaining amount.
The worker, Ria Dwi Astuti, aged 35, pleaded guilty to the theft and was sentenced to six months and two weeks in jail. The stolen jewellery belonged to her employer, Ms Gindo Kaur, who discovered the missing items and reported the incident to the police. The value of the stolen jewellery was $16,207, while an additional 24 pieces of jewellery with an estimated value of $15,695 were also reported missing.
The court emphasized the breach of trust by the domestic worker and the significant loss incurred. The worker expressed her desire to return to Indonesia to care for her mother and child. The judge acknowledged her guilty plea but noted that she did not make restitution for the stolen items. In Singapore, stealing from an employer can result in a prison sentence of up to seven years and a fine.
Source: The Straits Times