A 38-year-old man, James Ho, was handed an 18-month jail sentence on Monday, August 7th. The charges against him revolved around the theft of an astonishing 70 tins of milk powder worth about $6,700 from various supermarkets to resell for profit.
He had pleaded guilty to 5 counts of theft, with 14 other charges against him being taken into consideration during his sentencing.
He also confessed to receiving 4 tins of stolen milk powder as well, amounting to about $480.
The Milk Powder Heist
James Ho’s unlawful escapade unfolded between October and December 2021, during which he managed to steal a staggering S$6,700 (US$5,000) worth of milk powder.
The thefts took place across several establishments, with the majority occurring at Sheng Siong supermarkets and two NTUC FairPrice stores.
Ho’s modus operandi involved stealing four tins of milk powder on each occasion, expertly concealing his loot within a large, reusable shopping bag.
A Lookout in the Shadows
Interestingly, Ho wasn’t alone in his endeavors. He was occasionally accompanied by an individual named Yeh Chia Wei, who acted as a lookout during some of the thefts.
The police were eventually alerted after staff members of the supermarkets noticed the thefts.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
The court found James Ho guilty of five counts of theft, with an additional 14 charges taken into consideration. The prosecution and defense both recommended jail sentences ranging from 18 to 24 months, and an enhanced sentence of 233 days was eventually imposed because Ho was under a remission order from a previous sentence at the time of his offence.
The Judge’s Perspective
District Judge Wong Li Tein, presiding over the case, described Ho as a “recalcitrant offender.” The court noted that the thefts were premeditated, evidenced by the elaborate scheme Ho used to conceal the stolen items and the frequency of his actions.