In a breach of trust, a 38-year-old nurse from Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital was sentenced to six months in jail after admitting to stealing her colleagues’ debit cards and making unauthorized purchases. Yong Pei Yoong, the accused, used the stolen cards to foot the bill at a hotpot restaurant and to buy bird’s nest.
The Series of Thefts
The incident came to light when a medical sales representative from Johnson & Johnson, who was at the hospital to change into surgery scrubs, left her bag unattended in a staff changing room. The room, primarily used by hospital staff to store their belongings, was where Yong spotted and stole a debit card from the representative’s wallet.
Yong then proceeded to make purchases worth $138 at a shop in Novena Square and later spent $101.57 at a hotpot restaurant in Cross Street. The card was subsequently discarded in a dustbin.
In a similar incident on April 5, Yong stole another nurse’s debit card from the same changing room and used it to buy bird’s nest with ginseng worth $158.40 from a shop in Northpoint City. This card was also thrown away after the transaction.
Both victims reported the thefts and unauthorized transactions to the police upon realizing their cards were missing.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
During the court hearing, Deputy Public Prosecutor Koh Yi Wen argued for a jail term between six months to nine months, highlighting that Yong’s actions were opportunistic. However, she had ceased her criminal activities before her arrest.
In her defense, an unrepresented Yong expressed remorse and cited a traumatic experience from five years ago when her belongings were stolen from a hotel room. This incident, she claimed, led to a mental breakdown, causing her to act impulsively upon seeing the unattended debit cards.
District Judge James Elisha Lee, after pronouncing the sentence, advised Yong to reform and cautioned her against any future offenses.
Hospital’s Response
Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, in a statement to The Straits Times, confirmed that Yong was immediately suspended following the incident. A spokesperson for the hospital expressed regret over Yong’s actions, emphasizing that she had not lived up to the standards expected of their employees. Having joined the hospital in 2018, Yong now faces further disciplinary action.
Conclusion
The case underscores the importance of vigilance and the need for individuals to safeguard their personal belongings, even in seemingly secure environments. It also serves as a reminder of the consequences that await those who breach trust and resort to criminal activities.
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