Singapore jails domestic helper for stealing US$43,000 of employer’s valuables

The items Sri Hastuti stole from her employer’s bedroom included gold bars, necklaces, cuff links and an expensive Rolex watch

Police officers managed to recover some of the items, worth about US$30,000, from local pawn shops, the court heard

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The court heard that the victim was a 43-year-old German man, whose stolen property included gold bars, necklaces – and a Rolex watch worth about US$15,000. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 3:50pm, 22 Nov 2023

A domestic helper in Singapore who had access to her employer’s drawer of valuables for cleaning purposes stole more than S$57,000 (US$42,700) worth of gold and diamond jewellery, including a Rolex watch.

She pawned away the items and transferred money to her family in Indonesia.

Sri Hastuti, a 39-year-old Indonesian, was sentenced to 15 months’ jail on Tuesday after pleading guilty to one count of “theft as a servant”.

Public housing apartment blocks are seen at Marine Parade in Singapore. The victim lived in a condominium in the area, the court heard. Photo: Bloomberg

The court heard that she had worked as a domestic helper for a 43-year-old German man, who lived in a condominium in Marine Parade.

Between September 2022 and the same month this year, Sri Hastuti stole 66 items from a drawer in her employer’s master bedroom.

These included gold bars, gold necklaces and cuff links, gold rings, 4-carat white diamond ear studs and a Rolex watch worth S$20,000.

On more than 30 occasions, she pawned the items at shops in Singapore for cash.