Domestic helper, 31, steals S'pore employer's diamond ring & sunglasses worth S$3,068, before seeking help at embassy

A 31-year-old Indonesian helper who was unhappy with her job and wanted to return home has been sentenced to two months' jail after she stole her employer's diamond ring and sunglasses, which were worth more than S$3,000 in total.

Shin Min Daily News reported that Ayu Dwi Lestari pleaded guilty to one count of theft.

According to charge sheets seen by Mothership, the diamond ring was valued at about S$2,500 and the sunglasses were valued at S$500.

Wanted to return home

This comes after Lestari began working for her employer in February 2025, where she was mainly responsible for looking after the couple's three children and doing the housework.

After working for about seven months, she said her family needed her, and she wanted to return home.

Her employer asked her to continue working until October 2025, and arrangements would be made after her replacement was found.

Packed belongings, stole items

Lestari then began planning to leave, Shin Min reported, adding that she felt that she could not meet her employer's expectations.

She packed her belongings on Sep. 23, 2025, put them in a bag, and hid them in the bicycle box that her employer had parked on the ground floor of the HDB block.

The next morning, she went into the master bedroom and turned off the lights before stealing her employer's diamond ring and sunglasses.

She then took her employer's daughter to school and never returned to her employer's house.

Items never recovered

Following this, Lestari's employer checked CCTV footage after discovering that his wife's diamond ring and sunglasses were missing.

He called the police when he realised Lestari was responsible.

She had retrieved her personal belongings from the bicycle box and sought help from the Indonesian Embassy.

Fearing her employer might call the police, she threw the stolen goods into a women's restroom trash can, and the items were reportedly never recovered, according to Shin Min.

Plea for leniency

She was subsequently arrested on Mar. 16, 2026, and has been detained ever since.

Shin Min reported that Lestari, who has not made any compensation, said during her plea for leniency that she had elderly parents and young children to support.

She added that she felt sorry for her mistake and promised not to repeat it.

Top photos via Canva