Ex-Tembusu Home staff charged with stealing residents’ life savings
TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — A former assistant superintendent of a home for destitutes was charged in court on Monday (Feb 13) for misappropriating more than S$220,000 of seven elderly residents’ life savings in less than a year.
Chiang Zhao Xiang, 31, faces one count of criminal breach of trust and two counts of cheating.
Court documents show that between May 2014 and January 2015, Chiang was entrusted with control over certain properties belonging to seven residents of Tembusu Home in Buangkok. He allegedly misappropriated the monies — ranging from about S$8,000 to S$99,000 per victim — through ATM withdrawals and transfers.
On Nov 27, 2014, he allegedly cheated one Mr Tong Mong Tong of S$10,000 by deceiving him that the money was needed to pay for the hospital bills of Mr Tong’s mother. Likewise, on Dec 1 that same year, Chiang also deceived one Mr Koh Kiang Wah that he needed a sum of money to help a woman. Mr Koh, who died last June, had given him S$22,000 in cash.
Both Mr Tong and Mr Koh were residents at the home, which is managed by Sathya Sai Social Service (4S), a voluntary welfare organisation. 4S has recovered all monies lost and returned them to the affected resident, said the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) on Monday.
In court, Chiang indicated that he intends to plead guilty, and asked for a two-week adjournment to settle his personal matters before returning to court. He was released on S$20,000 bail and will appear in court again on March 1.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nathaniel Khng said prosecution will be proceeding on one count of criminal breach of trust. The remaining two charges of cheating will be taken into consideration for the purposes of sentencing. If convicted of criminal breach of trust, Chiang could be jailed up to 15 years and fined.
The MSF said on Feb 5, 2015, 4S notified the ministry that it had discovered unauthorised withdrawals from their residents’ accounts and a police report was made.
The VWO was directed to carry out an investigation and to implement measures to strengthen their internal controls and governance.
Among the measures implemented are regular savings passbook checks for all residents on top of existing checks made after routine withdrawals; strengthening administration and processes regarding staff access to residents’ properties; and implementing a whistle-blowing system for staff and residents.
After reviewing the investigation report, the ministry issued a letter of warning on March 6, 2015. The ministry also conducted checks on all welfare homes and found no other similar incidents, but control measures have been tightened for the other homes nonetheless. “MSF will continue to monitor and assess Tembusu Home and other Welfare Homes to ensure high standards of care and governance,” the ministry added.
