Clerk, 22, convicted of misappropriating more than S$380k from employer

SINGAPORE — In making false or altered claims, a 22-year-old shipping clerk submitted payment vouchers bearing her boss’ signatures and pocketed more than S$380,000 from her company over nine months, using the money to buy a new car and branded goods. 

Ellise Teo, a Malaysian, admitted on Monday (Aug 14) to one count of misappropriating S$388,711.61 from logistics company UBTS between September 2015 and May last year.

The court heard that Teo’s job in the accounts department was to process claims and disburse payments to drivers who had used their own money to pay for expenses incurred while operating container trucks. 

She also handled employees’ advance salary requests, which required approval from the company’s managing director, Mr Jimmy Ng.

All these claims were paid out through the accounts department’s petty cash of S$10,000, which was provided by the finance department. Once the sum was used up, Teo would forward records of payments to her superior, who would do up a summary invoice of all payments made. 

In September 2015, Teo started obtaining the managing director’s signature on payment vouchers, to deceive the finance department that employees were seeking advance payment of salaries when there were none who did. She then pocketed the money. 

She also duplicated claims already paid out to employees by obtaining Mr Ng’s signature on vouchers, or amended the claim amounts and pocketed the difference. For example, if a worker made a S$300 claim, Teo would change the amount to S$1,300 and took for herself the difference of S$1,000.

In December 2015, after she gained sole control of the company’s petty cash stash, she continued to get Mr Ng’s signature on payment vouchers, and made payments to customers and suppliers, as well as for other miscellaneous expenses — all of which were not part of her job scope. The finance department did not smell a rat and believed that the payments were approved and real, because Mr Ng’s signature was on the payment vouchers. 

It was not until March last year that her ploy was discovered, when Mr Pang Yong Suan, who was with the finance department, conducted an audit for the company. He reported the matter to the head of the finance department, who then lodged a police report. 

Teo used the money she misappropriated to buy herself a new car in Malaysia worth more than S$26,000, as well as branded merchandise worth close to S$9,500. 

The court heard that there has been no restitution made so far. 

Teo, who is in remand, will return to court on Sept 11 for sentencing. She could face a jail term of up to 15 years, and be fined.