In the heart of Singapore, a city known for its safety and prosperity, there is a story that unfolds, one that is as perplexing as it is captivating.
It’s the story of Ng Kim Swee, a 75-year-old Malaysian woman, who has been in and out of jail for the past 50 years and leaving a trail of stolen wallets in her wake, and has returned to prison once again for her latest theft offences, according to Channel NewsAsia.
She pleaded guilty to three charges of theft and was sentenced to 4 years imprisonment yesterday (1 November).
Latest offences
On 22 January earlier this year, Ng stole a Gucci wallet from a 44-year-old Singaporean woman, containing about $1,500 inside, at a Louis Vuitton shop at The Shoppes, Marina Bay Sands.
On 1 February, Ng noticed a 65-year-old Indonesian tourist at a bakery in Takashimaya and stood next to her after noticing that her handbag was unzipped.
With one hand picking up a packet of bread, she used her other hand to pull out the victim’s wallet from her bag containing cards and cash of about SGD$2,000 and 3 million Rupiah.
She was subsequently charged and released on court bail but reoffended shortly after.
On 15 February, she strole from a 48-year-old South Korean woman who was having a holiday in Singapore, stealing her wallet from her unzipped handbag at a shop in Bugis Village, which had about US$750 and SGD$85 in case inside.
She then threw away the wallet because she realised that it had very little value and kept only the money.
She was then charged once again for her offence and her bail was subsequently revoked, and this time she was given a higher amount of bail.
Then in April, she reoffencded once again by stealing from yet another victim, and was subsequently arrested again and placed on remand.
The police took 9 statements from her where she lied in all of them, saying that she didn’t steal anything despite being shown CCTV footage of her in the act.
A Lifetime of Theft
Ng Kim Swee’s criminal journey began in Malaysia, where she was convicted of theft and house-breaking offenses in 1977, 1985, 1987, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019.
Despite serving jail terms for most of these offenses, she continued her life of crime. Her criminal record in Singapore dates back to 1971, with her latest sentence being a 10-year term of preventive detention in 2004 for theft.
Between her release in 2014 and her latest offenses, Ng found herself back in the legal system at least four more times in Malaysia for property offenses, demonstrating what prosecutors termed “recalcitrance at every opportunity.”
The Modus Operandi
Ng Kim Swee’s modus operandi was as discreet as it was effective. She would frequent crowded stores in Singapore, scouting for individuals with open handbags.
Her calculated approach involved checking for observers and closed-circuit television cameras before positioning herself strategically, ensuring she was out of the cameras’ line of sight.
Ng’s method was as swift as it was precise. She would pretend to browse items next to her target, using one hand to retrieve the target’s wallet from their unattended handbag.
Her thefts ranged from a Gucci wallet containing S$1,500 to a wallet with S$2,000 (US$1,460) and 3 million rupiah (US$188).
A Life of Desperation
In her defense, Ng Kim Swee painted a picture of desperation. She claimed her gambler husband had abandoned her, leaving her to fend for herself and her children.
Her narrative took a tragic turn when she mentioned that her son, who washed dishes for long hours to make ends meet, was temporarily confined to a wheelchair. She saw the misery her son endured, which she stated was a trigger for her offenses.
Ng came from an unfortunate family background, where her husband neglected both her and their children, spending her hard-earned money on gambling and prostitutes. It was a life of struggle and hardship that led her down a path of crime, a path she chose out of what she saw as sheer necessity.
She also said in court via an interpreter that she was desperate and had no choice but to steal, and that she feels like she was just borrowing from the rich, and promised not to do it again.
Legal Consequences
The court, however, showed no leniency. Ng was sentenced to four years in jail, with another two charges considered in her sentencing.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Jeremy Bin highlighted Ng’s extensive criminal history, spanning five decades and multiple convictions.