Former Server Jailed 12 Months Theft, Gambling S$50,000 Wedding Singapore

Lee Yi Wei, a 36-year-old habitual gambler and former part-time banquet server, was sentenced to 12 months in jail for stealing nearly S$50,000 in red packets from a wedding reception at the JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach. Lee exploited his familiarity with the ballroom layout to steal two money boxes containing S$48,939 when the registration table was momentarily unattended. After the theft, Lee concealed the money in a locker at the National Library, used some to buy new clothes, and deposited over S$36,000 into a bank account, converting the funds into online gambling credits. Over the next two days, he placed 195 bets on an unlicensed gambling website and also gambled at a Singapore Pools outlet. The court ordered Lee to repay the stolen amount or face an additional 100 days in jail. The theft was discovered shortly after by the wedding organizer who reviewed CCTV footage and alerted the police.