Jail for printing firm manager who earned S$57,000 by using its resources for personal business

SINGAPORE — Shortly after being employed as a production manager by a banner printing company, Mike Song often did not turn up for work during office hours and felt that he was not given sufficient job progression.

He then began using the firm’s printing resources to print materials and sell them for his own financial gain. He received about S$57,000 in profits over four years before another employee found out what he was doing.

On Thursday (July 29), the 56-year-old Singaporean was jailed for a year after pleading guilty to two counts of criminal breach of trust by an employee. Another four charges were taken into consideration for sentencing.

He will begin serving his sentence on Aug 12.

Song was employed by 8 Ink Media between 2015 and 2019, before the company transferred all assets and employees to INX Events & Productions.

The court heard that he began working there in October 2014 when it had just been set up. The firm was located at 51 Ubi Avenue 1.

He needed to manage and fulfil printing orders, and was given this responsibility due to his longer experience in the printing industry compared to other employees.

However, he often did not turn up for work during office hours and returned only late at night. He then began feeling like he was not given enough progression and opportunities even though the company was expanding and doing well.

In November 2015, he started to use the firm’s resources to print banners and other materials and sell them.

Several months later, he set up his own company — Opportunities Production — and sourced for his own clients.

He usually delivered the materials to these clients in person to avoid detection by his employer. The clients were not aware of his scheme.

He received proceeds of S$57,479 from sales to them between November 2015 and December 2019.

His actions came to light only in February last year after another employee told the firm’s general manager what was going on. The manager then filed a police report against Song the same day.

In the first half of last year, Song agreed to make full restitution by first paying the company S$10,000 in July, then forking out S$1,000 every month. He has since completed paying back what he misappropriated.

For each criminal breach of trust charge, he could have been jailed for up to 15 years and fined.