A domestic helper in Singapore has been sentenced to jail after stealing more than S$32,000 worth of jewellery from her employer and attempting to evade detection by covering a CCTV camera inside the bedroom. The case has drawn attention to issues of household security, employer trust, and the growing use of home surveillance systems in private residences.
The offender, a 34-year-old Indonesian national, was employed by a 61-year-old woman and had been working in the household since early 2024. Over time, she became familiar with the employer’s daily routine and learned that valuable jewellery was kept in an unlocked drawer beneath the television in the bedroom. When she later encountered personal financial difficulties, she decided to exploit this access.
Court proceedings revealed that the thefts occurred while the employer was away at work. On one occasion, the maid entered the bedroom and took three diamond-studded gold bracelets valued at S$23,638. The jewellery was temporarily hidden under a bathroom carpet on the second floor and inside a drawer, before being pawned. Despite the high value of the items, the total amount she received from pawning them was only S$1,930.
THEFT UNCOVERED AFTER CCTV CAMERA WAS TAMPERED WITH
The employer eventually realised that her jewellery was missing and questioned the maid, who initially claimed the items may have been misplaced. Concerned about security, the employer subsequently installed a CCTV camera inside the bedroom as an added safety measure.
Not long after, the employer discovered that the camera lens had been deliberately covered with a cloth. When confronted, the maid admitted to stealing the bracelets. Further investigations uncovered that she had also taken additional jewellery valued at around S$8,700, bringing the total value of stolen items to over S$32,000.
All the stolen jewellery was eventually recovered by the authorities and presented as evidence in court. The use of CCTV footage and physical evidence played a key role in establishing the facts of the case, highlighting how home surveillance systems can assist in resolving domestic theft disputes.
COURT OUTCOME AND LEGAL CONSEQUENCES
The maid faced multiple charges, including three counts of theft and one charge of providing false information to a public official. She pleaded guilty to one theft charge, with the remaining charges taken into consideration during sentencing. The court imposed a jail term of 36 weeks, reflecting the breach of trust involved and the deliberate attempts to conceal the crime.
It was also revealed that after her arrest, the maid tried to mislead authorities by giving false information, further aggravating the offence. The court took a serious view of her actions, emphasising that domestic helpers are entrusted with access to private homes and valuables, and any abuse of that trust carries severe legal consequences.
The case serves as a reminder to homeowners in Singapore to take practical steps in safeguarding valuables, such as using locked storage and maintaining clear household protocols. It also underscores the importance of transparency and honesty in employer-helper relationships, as well as the legal repercussions of theft, fraud, and obstruction of justice under Singapore law.