Account manager charged with embezzling S$1.74 million from employer over 7.5 years

SINGAPORE — An account manager from a shipping company allegedly pocketed S$1,742,800 over a period of about seven-and-a-half years, up until the police received a report in July about his purported actions.

Chow Pak Thong, 65, was hauled to court on Wednesday (Oct 16) and charged with eight counts each of criminal breach of trust as a servant and falsification of accounts.

The police said in a news release that they had arrested Chow on Monday. 

Preliminary investigations revealed that he had signed a total of 78 cheques for BSA Transportation Pte Ltd and cashed them in without the firm’s approval.

According to court documents, Chow also allegedly falsified the same number of payment vouchers from BSA to various parties to cover up his crimes.

He is accused of doing this from January 2012 till May this year.

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He also faces one charge of criminal intimidation, for purportedly pointing a fruit knife at one Wong Ah Khim on July 3 in the BSA office, located in Tanjong Pagar. 

Mr Wong was the company’s agency manager, according to a 2016 collective agreement document.

The police said that a report was lodged against Chow the next day.

He will return to court on Nov 13 and is out on bail of S$50,000.

If convicted of criminal breach of trust as a servant, he could be jailed for up to 15 years and fined. 

If convicted of falsifying accounts, he could be jailed for up to 10 years and fined.

Offenders who commit criminal intimidation can also be jailed for up to two years, fined or both.