SINGAPORE - An Indonesian domestic worker who stole about $24,000 from her employer over five months was jailed for five months on Monday (Dec 12). Yati Nurmala Karjo Jumhandi, 34, had admitted to three charges of theft of about $12,500 from Mr Nallatamby Kunaratnam, 87, at Kingsmead Road between August and Nov 6. The remaining seven charges were taken into consideration in sentencing.

A district court heard that sometime in August, Yati entered Mr Kunaratnam's room and found that a metal cabinet was unlocked. She searched through the cabinet and took $2,500. She remitted $1,500 to Indonesia and spent the remainder on several top-up cards, a watch and clothing.

The following month, she again stole $4,000 in a black coloured pouch from her employer's unlocked cabinet. After remitting $2,250 to Indonesia, she spent the remaining money on things such as a mobile phone, a tablet, a watch and clothing.

Investigations showed that on Nov 6, she stole $1,500, US$3,000 and 105 pounds, totalling $5,966, from her employer.

She converted the foreign currencies to Singapore money before remitting $2,600 to her family in Indonesia. She spent the remaining money.

Mr Kunaratnam's son made a police report on Nov 26.

Police recovered the items that Yati had bought but not the money remitted to Indonesia.

Her sentence was backdated to Nov 28, her date of remand.

She could have been jailed for up to seven years and fined on each charge.