M'sian man, 38, allegedly breaks into ex-colleagues' Spottiswoode Park home & steals S$60,000 worth of jewelry

A 38-year-old man from Malaysia has been charged with allegedly breaking into a residence occupied by his former colleagues in Singapore and stealing gold jewellery worth S$60,000.

The accused, identified as Dewa, allegedly entered a unit at Block 107 Spottiswoode Park Road, more than a year after leaving his job at a bak kut teh restaurant.

According to Shin Min Daily News, the unit was rented by the owner of Outram Park Ya Hua Rou Gu Cha, Lim Hock Lai, to house his employees.

Allegedly stole gold jewellery belonging to two former colleagues

Court documents cited by Shin Min stated that Dewa allegedly entered the unit between 1:43pm and 2pm on Mar. 28, 2026.

He is accused of stealing a gold necklace worth S$30,500 belonging to a 26-year-old employee, Liu Kaixin, as well as two bracelets and a gold ring belonging to another employee, Liu Yuchuan (transliterated), worth S$29,500.

The total value of the missing jewellery was S$60,000.

Dewa had previously lived in the unit with both employees but moved out after resigning in December 2024.

Liu told Shin Min that the theft was discovered when his colleague returned home from work and noticed that a gold chain kept in a wardrobe was missing.

Liu subsequently checked his belongings and discovered that his gold necklace had also disappeared.

The police were then alerted.

According to Liu, there were no signs that the room had been ransacked.

“We only thought of Deva after the police asked if we suspected anyone we knew,” Liu told Shin Min.

Former employer shocked by allegations

The restaurant's owner, 44-year-old Lim Hock Lai, told Shin Min that Dewa had worked there for about five years.

He described the former employee as hardworking and able to speak Chinese, although he occasionally requested salary advances of several hundred dollars for family expenses.

"We were all very surprised that he was allegedly involved," Lim said.

Lim also alleged that Dewa had previously requested leave to travel overseas for his wife's delivery.

He claimed that Dewa later sent him a photograph purportedly showing a baby who had died, in an attempt to secure another week of leave.

Lim said he believed the photograph was fake and confronted Dewa, who subsequently returned to Singapore and resigned.

These claims were made by Lim and have not been independently established.

Expected to plead guilty on Nov. 10

According to court records cited by Shin Min, Dewa faces one charge of housebreaking and theft.

He has reportedly been remanded since Apr. 25, 2026.

He is expected to plead guilty on Nov. 10, 2026.