Helper stole $30,000 from employer in 28 days; spends money on husband, mobile games
Mei Santi Andriani stumbled upon a key to a private room.
An Indonesian domestic helper, left alone at home, repeatedly entered her employer's sister-in-law's room, stealing more than $30,000 over a span of 28 days.
Most of the money was sent to her husband in Indonesia, while the remaining amount was spent on mobile games.
On July 15, 28-year-old Mei Santi Andriani (transliterated) was jailed for 10 months after pleading guilty to two counts of theft.
Three other charges were taken into consideration for sentencing.
Shin Min Daily News reported that Andriani was employed by a 59-year-old woman but did not live with her.
Instead, her primary duties were to care for the employer's 82-year-old mother-in-law and father-in-law, carrying out household chores such as cleaning and cooking.
The elderly couple initially lived in a private residence in the Mandai area.
On March 26, due to ongoing renovation works at the elderly couple's home, they temporarily relocated to a public housing unit along Yishun Ring Road.
The elderly couple shared one bedroom, while Andriani and the employer's 53-year-old sister-in-law occupied separate rooms.
Intruded into private room to steal
The employer's sister-in-law told Andriani that she was only allowed to enter the sister-in-law's room for cleaning when she was at home, and that the room would usually be locked.
However, while doing the laundry, Andriani discovered a key in a pair of trousers that belonged to the sister-in-law. She kept the key with the intention of using it to steal from the room.
On May 6, Andriani used the key to unlock the room and discovered a large sum of cash in a wardrobe drawer. She took a bundle of cash and locked up after leaving.
Counting the money in her own room, she found she had taken $4,700, which she deposited into her bank account later that day.
Emboldened, Andriani continued stealing from the room.
Between May 6 and May 28, she stole on at least 14 occasions, taking a total of $30,140 in cash. Each time, she deposited the stolen money into her bank account on the same day.
She later sent a large portion of the money to her husband, who resides in Indonesia, while the rest was spent on mobile games and personal expenses.