Jurong minimart manager thought business dwindling, realises worker pocketed $57k for gambling
Seah Jun De
TNP
July 17, 2025
A Malaysian woman working at a minimart in Jurong was caught pocketing nearly $57,000 to fuel her online gambling habit.
The embezzlement began last April and went on for about five months, as the minimart's manager had initially thought the decline in daily sales was down to worsening business.
Kon Chin Sia, who was considered to be hardworking, was eventually found out thanks to CCTV footage.
On July 14, the 37-year-old was jailed 17 months after pleading guilty to one count of criminal breach of trust. A second count was taken into consideration during sentencing.
Pocketing cash while on duty
Shin Min Daily News reported that Kon had worked at the Block 651 Jurong West Street 61 minimart for seven years.
Last September, the minimart manager noticed that whenever Kon was on shift, the sales would decrease by $600 to $700.
The manager then reviewed surveillance footage from Sept 30 to Oct 27 and discovered that when customers paid in cash, Kon would put the cash into a drawer instead of the cash register.
When the manager confronted Kon, she admitted that she had been misappropriating $500 to $600 every time she was on shift.
She would put the money in her pocket before leaving the shop and later deposit the sum into her bank account.
Kon was given a chance to make restitution, but failed to do so.
The manager then called the police and sacked Kon.
According to bank records, a total of $56,797 was deposited into Kon's account. She admitted that the money came from the minimart and said that most of it was spent on online gambling.
The prosecution argued that Kon could not be considered a first-time offender as she committed a crime every time she was on shift.
It was also highlighted that most of the money stolen was gambled away.
