[Tee tiong huat]

Abudun, (Arr bo then)

A director of the company lodged a police report in April 2023, saying money had been embezzled. Yao has since made restitution of S$20,000.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Brian Tan said Yao has two related past convictions. In April 2015, she was sentenced to 10 weeks' jail for eight charges of cheating. In June 2020, she was jailed for a week for theft too.

Mr Tan sought 32 to 34 months' jail for Yao, citing the high amount misappropriated spanning eight months. He said there was a "serious abuse of trust" as Yao had the "unfettered right" to make new outgoing transfers as payroll master. Not only did the offence undermine the delivery of financial services, there was also use of deception on her friend Wendy, implicating her, said Mr Tan.

Defence lawyer Ashvin Hariharan of IRB Law took issue with the prosecution's calculation of the suggested jail term.

Prosecution said jail term sought already factored in 30% discount for pleading guilty early, but Mr Ashvin said 30% of 42 mths - the prosecution's starting point - was 29 mths and not 32.

Prosecutor started to say that discount was up to 30%, but judge interjected and said 30& should apply and that it is not discretionary. 

District Judge Wong Li Tein said she considered the high amount misappropriated, the long period of offending and the abuse of position. "Specific deterrence also must apply because obviously the accused has not learnt her lesson despite two incarcerations before," she said.

Mr Ashvin asked for a deferment of four weeks, saying Yao has two children and wishes to spend one of their birthdays with them.

She also has an online business that she wishes to tie up loose ends for before serving the relatively lengthy term, he said.

The judge allowed the deferment but Yao has to fork out another S$5,000 in cash bail.
Source: CNA/ll(sn)