NTU prof admits to stealing S$450 worth of goods from petrol kiosks

SINGAPORE — A Nanyang Technological University (NTU) professor on Thursday (April 20) admitted to stealing items worth more than S$450 in total from petrol stations, including pineapple tarts, toiletries and electronic accessories.

Er Meng Joo, 55, a professor at the School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, committed the offences on seven occasions in January last year. 

Of all the items he shoplifted, the most expensive was a portable charger priced at S$49.90.

The prosecution proceeded on two charges and left the remaining five charges to be taken into consideration during sentencing.

The court on Thursday called for a report to assess his suitability for a mandatory treatment order, which has a community sentencing option for offenders who suffer from psychiatric conditions, where they will have to receive psychiatric treatment.

Er, who stole from NTUC FairPrice outlets at Esso petrol kiosks along Bukit Timah Road and Dunearn Road, was discovered by Mr Lam Wing Kin. 

The manager of the kiosks noticed Er behaving suspiciously during a review of closed-circuit television footage on Jan 28 and 29 last year, and saw him leaving the Dunearn Road store without paying after taking some items.

Mr Lam then filed a police report on Jan 30. He realised that Er was a regular customer, and found out his name and vehicle licence-plate number. 

Following up on the report, the police went to Er’s home and recovered some of the pilfered goods, including an air-freshener and two bottles of mouthwash. Other items such as hairspray and a power-charger were not recovered. Restitution of S$251.80 has been made.

For each count of theft, Er could be jailed up to three years, fined, or both.

Defence lawyer Edmond Pereira requested a conditional discharge for Er, whereby he must not commit any offence for a maximum period of 12 months from the date of the court order. The professor returns to court on May 22.

According to his teaching profile on NTU’s website, Er was a member of the NTU Senate Steering Committee from 2010 to 2012, and an elected member of the NTU Advisory Board from 2009 to 2012. 

He was also Teacher of the Year for the School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering in 1999, and the recipient of the Outstanding Mentor Award in 2014.

SOME OF THE STOLEN ITEMS

• Two sets of Avantree power bank
• A micro-USB cable
• A set of retractable USB sync-and-charge cable
• A waterproof mobile-phone bag
• A toiletries travel kit
• A can of Gatsby hairspray
• A tube of Colgate toothpaste
• Three sets of Listerine mouthwash
• A tub of pineapple tarts
• Two tubs of prawn rolls
• Three packets of Strepsils lozenges
• A tube of Redoxon vitamin C
• A multifunctional tray
• Various brands of air-fresheners
• Car-wash detergent 
• Leather polish
• Car mat
• Glass cleaner