NTU professor gets mandatory treatment order for shoplifting

SINGAPORE — A Nanyang Technological University (NTU) professor who stole items worth more than S$450 from petrol kiosks was sentenced to an 18-month mandatory treatment order on Monday (May 22).

Er Meng Joo, 55, a professor at the School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, committed the offences on seven occasions in January last year. 

Of all the items he stole from NTUC FairPrice outlets at Esso petrol kiosks along Bukit Timah Road and Dunearn Road, the most expensive was a portable charger, which was priced at S$49.90. 

He also stole pineapple tarts, toiletries and electronic accessories.

Er had pleaded guilty to two counts of theft in April, with the prosecution leaving five other charges to be taken into consideration during sentencing.

District Judge Eddy Tham said during sentencing on Monday that he has taken into account the nature of the offence as well as the opinion of an appointed psychiatrist, who noted that Er was suffering from a psychiatric condition and that the depressive disorder was a contributing factor to his offences. 

Thus, the criteria for mandatory treatment order “has been satisfied”, the judge said.

Last month, the court called for a report to assess Er’s suitability for a mandatory treatment order — a community sentencing option for offenders who suffer from psychiatric conditions, in which they would have to receive psychiatric treatment. 

Er has to attend all sessions of psychiatric treatment, and comply with other conditions as the psychiatrist may require. 

District Judge Tham added that if Er breaches the conditions set out for mandatory treatment, the court could revoke the order, and he would be re-sentenced for his offences.

In a statement made to TODAY after the sentencing, NTU said that it would evaluate “the appropriate course of action” to enable the professor to undergo his treatment as mandated by the court.

Er’s suspicious behaviour at the kiosks was first noticed by kiosk manager Lam Wing Kin during a review of closed-circuit television footage on Jan 28 and 29 last year. Mr Lam saw Er leaving the Dunearn Road store without paying after taking some items. 

A police report was made on Jan 30 last year, and the police recovered some of the pilfered goods, including an air-freshener and two bottles of mouthwash, from Er’s home. Other items such as hairspray and a power-charger were not recovered. Restitution of S$251.80 has since been made.

For each count of theft, Er could be jailed up to three years, fined, or both.

On Monday, Er cut a sombre figure as the judge read out his sentence. 

A check on NTU’s website showed that Er was a member of the NTU Senate Steering Committee from 2010 to 2012, and an elected member of the NTU Advisory Board from 2009 to 2012. 

He was also awarded Teacher of the Year for the School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering in 1999, and was the recipient of the Outstanding Mentor Award in 2014.