By Fann Sim | SingaporeScene
The wife of a thief stood up during her husband's court hearing and volunteered to make the $31,000 restitution for the items her husband stole.
Tan Cheow Lai, 57, pleaded guilty to two counts of stealing 940 pieces of stainless steel staircase nosings, worth a total of $14,100, from his employer in November 2010, reported The Straits Times.
He then sold the components to scrap metal shops.
In court on Thursday, Tan pleaded for leniency, saying he had to support two children and his wife only earned $1,00 a month. He said he realised he had done wrong and resorted to stealing because he needed to pay off his credit card bills.
The first-time offender asked the court to allow him to pay his fine and restitution in instalments. He said the family had downgraded to a smaller flat and money was still tight when Senior District Judge See Kee Oon asked if full restitution could be paid before sentencing.
At this point, his wife who was seated in the public gallery, stood up and said they could pay the restitution in full, reported the paper.
The court will sentence Tan on 4 October to allow the pair time to raise money for the restitution and hand it over to the investigating officer.
Four other charges will be considered during his sentencing.
Tan was responsible for four other thefts at the worksite. In 2010, he stole 15 bicycle racks worth $900, drainage inspection chamber covers worth $1,978 and 470 staircase nosings between October and December.
Tan's crime was discovered when the staircase nosings were found missing several months after he stole them. Police investigations led them to Tan, who was arrested in March 2011.
On each theft charge, he could be jailed up to three years and/or fined up to $10,000.