by Elena Chong
A SERIAL burglar who broke into hundreds of social organisations
over the last 12 years and got away with about $300,300 worth of
property was jailed for eight years and five months on
Thursday.
Ong Yeow Kong alias Ong Yew Peng, 49, a Malaysian, was ordered
to be given five strokes of the cane for overstaying for almost 23
years.
The unemployed man admitted to 16 counts of housebreaking and
theft by night at mostly child care and education centres in the
east between July last year and May 3 this year (10).
When police caught him at Metropolitan YMCA Childcare and
Development Centre at Pasir Ris on May 3, he was found with $874,
of which $600 were stolen from the centre. Three screwdrivers, a
cutter and a torchlight were also found on him.
The court heard that he came here to work in 1978, mostly as a
general worker or steel fitter.He last worked in a company in
Kallang Place until his work permit was cancelled on Nov 11, 1987.
He had remained here since without any reasonable cause.
Another 328 charges were taken into consideration during his
sentencing.
Ong could have been jailed for up to 14 years on each charge of
housebreaking and theft.
