Ex-Maris Stella principal admits nine CBT charges

Anthony Tan Kim Hock, former principal of Maris Stella at the Subordinate Court on June 14, 2013. Convicted former Maris Stella High principal Anthony Tan Kim Hock was back in court on Monday to plead guilty new criminal breach of trust charges relat
Anthony Tan Kim Hock, former principal of Maris Stella at the Subordinate Court on June 14, 2013. Convicted former Maris Stella High principal Anthony Tan Kim Hock was back in court on Monday to plead guilty new criminal breach of trust charges relating to his former school. -- ST FILE PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW

Convicted former Maris Stella High principal Anthony Tan Kim Hock was back in court on Monday to plead guilty to new criminal breach of trust charges relating to his former school.

The 67-year-old, who was dressed in purple prison garb, is currently serving a five-month jail sentence after he lost his appeal against conviction and sentence for embezzling more than $67,000 from the school's chapel building fund in 2009. He is due to be released on June 1

On Monday he admitted nine proceeded charges amounting to almost $67,000, out of 20 outstanding charges totalling just over $80,000.

The court heard that between June 2004 and May 2009, he misappropriated funds from the school management committee to pay for a friend of the church, Mr Peter Lim, to go on overseas trips to China, Hong Kong, Australia, Thailand and Britain.

He had met Mr Lim in 2003 and took him along despite the fact that he was not a member of school or Ministry of Education staff and had no involvement in the purpose of any of the trips.

Tan had also dishonestly misappropriated donations to the school, the court heard, depositing two $10,000 donors' cheques into his or Mr Lim's personal bank accounts.

In 2007, he misappropriated cash cheques totalling $4,800 from badminton coach Gong Ge who had made a monthly donation of $400 in return for the use of the Mount Vernon Road school's premises to hold coaching sessions.

Instead of depositing the cheques with the school, Tan deposited them into his bank account.

Tan made full restitution last Friday.

District Judge Toh Yung Cheong will sentence Tan on Friday and take the remaining 11 charges into account.

Tan could be jailed for up to seven years or 15 years for offences after 2008 and fined on each charge.

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