M'sian man, 29, collects S$50 & gives S$100 change 8 times to steal from Bukit Batok economy rice stall he works at

A Malaysian man, 29, was sentenced to 18 days' jail after he colluded with another man to cheat and steal S$400 from an economy rice stall he was working at, Shin Min Daily News reported.

Lim Jun Yap faced two charges of theft and abetment.

He pleaded guilty to one charge, with the other charge taken into consideration.

Court documents showed that Lim worked as a cook and cashier at a food stall located at a coffee shop at Block 155 Bukit Batok Street 11 from August 2023 to February 2025.

In January 2025, Lim conspired with another Malaysian man, Chia Yow Hwa, 40, who was a stall assistant at a fruit shop located on an adjacent block, to carry out their plan.

The theft

Between Jan. 1 and Feb. 21, 2025, Chia visited the economy rice stall eight times.

Each time he patronised the stall, he paid with a S$50 bill.

Lim would take the S$50 note and put it into the cash register, but would take out five S$10 bills and one S$50 bill as change for Chia.

The S$50 bill was hidden under the S$10 bills to conceal the theft each time.

Lim will then approach Chia subsequently and they will split the S$100 between them.

The ruse worked eight times, and Lim stole S$400.

The stall owner discovered Lim's actions on Feb. 22, 2025 and called the police.

Lim was arrested that day and released on bail the following day.

He has since made full restitution.

He could have been jailed up to seven years and/ or fined.

Top photo via Shin Min Daily News