SINGAPORE: A woman who was hired as part-time help stole a piggy bank containing S$7,000 (RM21,000) from the Woodlands flat she was cleaning here and has been sentenced to three weeks’ jail.
Norashikin Abdullah, 21, found the “Hello Kitty” piggy bank in a kitchen cabinet, pried it open and took the bank notes inside.
She did this while the victim, Rebecca Lee Li Zhen, 23, was asleep. Lee had paid her S$50 (RM150) before going to her room to sleep on Feb 28, 2017.
When Norashikin left the flat, she threw the piggy bank into a rubbish chute before taking a taxi to a shopping centre to meet Muhammad Shauqil Muhammad Shawal, also 21.
She also withdrew S$2,000 (RM6,000) which she used with the rest of the money she stole to go on a shopping spree.
She bought a wallet for Shauqil and also clothes and other items for her daughter.
Lee discovered the theft later the same day. She made a police report after Norashikin denied she had seen nor stolen the piggy bank.
District Judge Chay Yuen Fatt had called for a probation report after Norashikin admitted to the offence on Nov 30.
On Thursday (Jan 11), she was sentenced to three weeks’ jail but the sentence is stayed pending her appeal.
Her pro bono lawyer Sherrie Han filed a notice of appeal. She asked the court to place the single mother, a warehouse assistant, on probation.
She said Norashikin, who has learnt a painful lesson, can be rehabilitated and should be given a second chance.
But deputy public prosecutor Kong Kuek Foo asked for a jail term of at least four weeks. He told the court that Norashikin was a recalcitrant offender and had been placed on the guidance programme before, also for theft.
Her risk of committing another offense, according to the probation report, has been assessed as “moderate”.
DPP Kong said there was an abuse of trust. Norashikin was hired to clean the flat but abused the trust by stealing Lee’s money. No restitution has been made.
Police seized S$2,818 (RM8,432) cash and items bought with the stolen money from Norashikin and Shauqil. Shauqil has been dealt with separately for receiving stolen money.
The maximum penalty for theft is three years’ jail and a fine. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
