Singapore jails domestic worker who stole more than US$30,000 from employer with dementia

Albertina Kallu was entrusted with her 82-year-old employer’s banking details to make monthly salary payments of about US$535 to herself

But instead she transferred tens of thousands of dollars, which she remitted to an account in Indonesia and spent on building a house, the court heard

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The State Courts in Singapore. In total, Albertina transferred S$41,324 to herself from her employer’s account in excess of her salary. No restitution has been made. Photo: AP

Published: 2:02pm, 5 Feb 2024Updated: 8:42pm, 5 Feb 2024

When entrusted with her elderly employer’s banking details to credit her monthly salary to herself, an Indonesian domestic worker in Singapore used the information to obtain more than S$41,000 (US$30,500) in excess of what she was owed.

Albertina Kallu, 46, was jailed on Monday for 16 months. She pleaded guilty to one count of accessing computer material with intent to commit criminal breach of trust by an employee.

The court heard that Albertina worked for an 82-year-old woman who has dementia and memory loss.

People use DBS ATMs in Singapore. Albertina had been entrusted with her employer’s account details to make her own salary transfers, the court heard. Photo: Reuters

In April last year, the victim handed over the details of her DBS bank account to Albertina, who at the time was paid a monthly salary of S$720 in cash or via bank transfer.

The victim did so as her eyesight was poor, and she trusted Albertina to make her own salary transfers.

The DBS bank account, jointly owned by the victim and the victim’s niece, was meant for investment savings and daily expenses.

Albertina had been entrusted with the account details to make outgoing salary transfers to herself.