Temple clerk charged with embezzling more than S$150,000 in cash donations from devotees

SINGAPORE: A temple clerk was charged on Wednesday (Apr 3) with misappropriating more than S$150,000 (US$111,012) in cash donations from devotees. 

Goh Bee Hiang, 58, was handed two counts of criminal breach of trust in the State Courts. 

She was an administrative clerk with Tampines Chinese Temple, located along Tampines Street 21, at the time of the alleged offences. 

Between September 2018 and December 2018, Goh allegedly misappropriated about S$28,000 in cash donations that were entrusted to her. 

Goh purportedly took around S$123,006 in cash donations between January 2019 and December 2019. In total, she is accused of siphoning about S$151,006 in cash donations from devotees. 

Her case will return to court on May 2. 

If convicted of committing criminal breach of trust as a clerk or servant, she may be jailed up to 15 years and fined.