Cop jailed 4 months for pocketing $70 from wallet handed over to him

[MarrickG]

A POLICE officer who pocketed $70 from a wallet turned in by a member of the public was jailed for four months yesterday for criminal breach of trust.

Mohamed Hanafi Mohamed Riza, 27, pleaded guilty to dishonestly misappropriating the cash belonging to Mr Puah Wei Khian at Jurong West Neighbourhood Police Centre on Aug 4 last year.

The police sergeant was manning the counter at the NPC at about 6am that day when Mr Ronnie Woo, 34, came in and handed over the wallet he had found at his workplace in Boon Lay Place.

Mr Woo then left without any police report being given to him.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Kwek Chin Yong said Hanafi kept the wallet, and after reporting off from his duty, took $70 from it and threw the wallet away at a carpark in Woodlands Avenue 4.

Further investigation showed that later that day, on being told by Mr Woo that his wallet had been handed to the police, Mr Puah, 36, went to the NPC but found no record of his wallet having been handed in.

When confronted, Hanafi admitted he had taken the money and used it for his own purposes.

A second charge of failing to lodge a lost/found report was considered during his sentencing.

Defence lawyer Sunil Sudheesan said his client, a regular in the force for six years, had a blemish-free record and was supporting his parents and two school-going siblings.

He said Hanafi, who is married, had received an award from the commander for investigative work.

What his client did was bizarre and totally out of character, he added.

In passing sentence, District Judge Jasvender Kaur told Hanafi: “The public expects the highest integrity from police officers. You have let down the police force.”

Last month, a 36-year-old police sergeant was sentenced to six months’ jail after he was found guilty of four counts of corruption and one of attempted bribery.

During an unauthorised raid at a forested area in Seletar in 2008, he found $300 and a carton of contraband cigarettes after arresting an illegal immigrant.

But instead of turning in the loot, he kept the cigarettes and gave the cash to his colleagues so they would keep mum. He is appealing.

 

[saratogas]

“The public expects the highest integrity from police officers. You have let down the police force.”

For $70... stupidity is his crime!

 

[HongKanSeng]

Pse understand my 1st World Home Team men lah.

Times are so hard, $ no enough mah.

Their salaries not like mine you know?
:p

 

[annexa]

$70? Give up his pay and pesnion for $70? Is he out of his mind?

 

[jw5]

$70? Give up his pay and pesnion for $70? Is he out of his mind?

He didn't think he would get caught.
And he didn't do a risk-return analysis before he did the act.

 

[Papsmearer]

Jasvender kaur and DPP Kwek Chin Yong going to be called up soon to lim kopi with Old Goat. Old Goat has been telling the whole world for years that S'pore is corruption free. Than these 2 clowns just make him look like a big liar. KNN, Old Goat, S'pore got corruption or not? If got, than it means your high salary system to prevent corruption is not working. How about u refund your pay?

 

[scoobyhoo]

why no canings? should have his buttcoks caned bare.

 

[besotted]

We should import some PRCs to staff our police force

But they must go through English language and some basic Malay language training

 

[lifeafter41]

Plain stupidity, I would say.

 

[cooleo]

We should import some PRCs to staff our police force

But they must go through English language and some basic Malay language training

They can't even order a plate of fried rice in English and you expect them to protect us? Instead of English lessons, may I suggest entire head transplants!

 

[ivebert]

Time to import Indians to staff our Police Force

The locals are greedy, evil and are like thieves.

 

[zuoom]

bad idea. bad idea.