A TAXI
driver caught carrying off donated items from the Salvation Army
claimed that he wanted to sell them and use the money to take care
of stray cats.
But that
did not save Neo Swee Hock, 54, from being fined $3,000 yesterday
for misappropriating the donations, the value of which was not
specified.
The
TransCab taxi driver is also the owner of Jumbo Profit Trading,
which deals in second-hand goods.
A district
court heard that a security officer who was monitoring surveillance
video noticed Neo driving into the charity's premises in Upper
Changi Road North at about 3.15am on July 10.
He was then
seen putting on a cap before taking several bags and boxes of
donated items out of the booth and putting them into his
taxi.
When the
officer and a colleague went to check, they saw that the booth had
been cleaned out. All the donated items were in the boot and on the
rear passenger seats of the taxi.
At first,
Neo claimed that he had come to donate the items.
When told
about the video showing him carrying the goods into his taxi, he
apologised.
He returned
the items to the booth and pleaded with the officers not to notify
the police before driving off.
However,
the building manager lodged a police report that evening and Neo
was arrested.
The maximum
punishment for misappropriation is a $10,000 fine and a two-year
jail term.
