by Khushwant Singh
FOR more than a year, Noreen Cainong Enriquez pocketed more than
$151,800 of her company's money. The Filipino national, who is a
permanent resident here, also applied for credit cards in her
boss's name to obtain cash advances and credit amounting to more
than $25,000.
On Wednesday, the 35-year-old was jailed 21/2 years.
A district court heard that as the personal assistant to Mr
Selamat Salim - the owner of Amat Carpet Computer, a company that
deals in furniture and electronic products, Enriquez was also
responsible for making payments to suppliers, Her boss had
entrusted her with 'blank' cheques which he had signed. She was to
fill in the correct amount due to the supplier when making payment
but instead she would inflate the amount.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Yau Pui Man explained that Enriquez
would then cash the cheque, pay the customer and pocket the
balance. Through this method she misappropriated more about
$151,800 from November 2007 to October 2008.
In addition to the two criminal breach of trust charges, she
also pleaded guilty on Wednesday to forging a credit card
application form and obtaining cash advances amounting to $5,681
from Citibank.
Enriquez also cheated other credit card companies and banks of
nearly $20,000.