Imprisoned For Taking Employer's Money, Indonesian Citizens In Singapore Can Get One-third Cut Their Sentence

Illustrations. (Pexels / Ekaterina Bolovtsova)

JAKARTA - An Indonesian citizen (WNI) who was imprisoned for taking his employer's money via an ATM in Singapore, can get leniency, according to the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia continuing to accompany the Indonesian citizen on the AP initiative.

AP, an Indonesian citizen who works as a domestic helper (ART) in Singapore, was found guilty and proven to have withdrawn money from his employer's ATM amounting to 18,000 Singapore dollars, thus being sentenced to 25 weeks in prison.

The Indonesian Embassy in Singapore confirmed the existence of the case, when confirmed by VOI on Wednesday, February 16, adding that the information had also been submitted to the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Meanwhile, Director of Protection for Indonesian Citizens at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Judha Nugraha, explained that the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore handled the case, including providing legal assistance and translation during the trial process.

"To ensure the fulfillment of all the rights of AP in Singapore law," said Judha when confirmed.

Judha further explained that AP pleaded guilty and apologized for his actions. The Indonesian Embassy in Singapore then assisted in the mitigation process for reducing penalties.

"The person concerned received a commutation of the sentence with a prison sentence of 25 weeks, stating that he accepted the verdict, so that the verdict was inkracht," he explained.

"According to Singapore law, the person concerned can get a 1/3 sentence cut if he behaves well while in prison," continued Judha.

As previously reported, AP was sentenced to 25 weeks in prison by the court. He was proven to withdraw money from his employer's ATM a total of 18 thousand Singapore dollars.

Quoted from Channel News Asia, Tuesday, February 15, AP started working for the victim's 79-year-old son in November 2020. His job is to clean the flat every day, including the victim's bedroom.

This is where the evil intentions arise. He then stole the victim's United Overseas Bank (UOB) card to withdraw money. AP used to accompany victims to ATMs to withdraw cash. It was here that he often noticed the old woman entering the PIN passcode and memorizing it.

Armed with the PIN, between December 16, 2021 and January 19, 2022, AP made a withdrawal by stealing a UOB card from the victim's handbag several times, while he was cleaning the house.

Made more than 36 withdrawals, AP took 500 Singapore dollars for each withdrawal. This made the victim's daughter suspicious, because the account was a joint account with her mother.

In short, last January, AP was reported to the police to be investigated and brought to court. Prosecutors charged him with a prison term of four to six months on one of the charges, leaving the sentences for the other offenses up to the court.

Although the AP's record is clean, Singapore's legal authorities do not see it as a first-time offense by the AP.