Peter Lee Yoke Leong, 43, was found guilty for embezzling $78, 461 and sentenced to eight months in jail. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
A FORMER grassroots leader was jailed for eight months on Tuesday for embezzling $78,461 belonging to the People's Action Party Aljunied-Kembangan branch.
Peter Lee Yoke Leong, 43, who used to earn $18,000 a month in a money broking firm until he was retrenched in March 2007, pleaded guilty to misappropriating $78,461 between Feb 2 and June 27, 2007.
A district court heard that as the treasurer of of the PAP Aljunied-Kembangan branch, he was one of the authorised signatories of the branch current account with DBS Bank.
After the 2006 General Elections, the PAP Aljunied-Kembangan branch and the PAP Kampong Ubi branch were merged to form the PAP Kampong Ubi-Kembangan branch.
Lee was tasked to close the PAP Aljunied-Kembangan bank branch account and transfer the residual funds to the Kampong Ubi-Kembangan account.
The court heard that he prepared two cheques - $50,000 and $28,461 - on two separate occasions and misappropriated the funds for his own personal expenses.
His lawyer N.M. Marican said his client, a first offender, was supporting his family and two children.
He urged the court to give him a chance by imposing a hefty fine or a day's jail plus fine or a short custodial sentence in view of his substantial contributions to society.
District Judge Liew Thiam Leng noted that Lee, who had made restitution, was holding a position of trust, and the amount involved was substantial.
Lee could have been jailed for up to three years and/or fined for criminal breach of trust.
