Indian priest charged with breach of trust in Singapore
An Indian priest in Singapore, on Tuesday, was charged with committing a criminal breach of trust by pawning ceremonial jewelry worth more than two million Singapore dollars from the country's oldest Hindu temple. Kandasamy Senapathi, 37, was given five charges of criminal breach of trust as an employee and five counts under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking, and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act.
Transferred more than 141,000 Singapore dollars out of the country
Kandasamy, the chief priest at the Sri Mariamman Temple, is accused of taking gold ceremonial ornaments from the temple and pawning them repeatedly to shops between 2016 and 2020, rolling the cash. The pawn value of the jewelry amounted to more than two million Singapore dollars ($1.5 million). Kandasamy allegedly transferred more than 141,000 Singapore dollars ($106,503) in criminal proceeds out of the country.
Kandasamy's modus operandi hit a roadblock because of the pandemic
Kandasamy's purported modus operandi was to take the jewelry, pawn them off and redeem them when he had the money in order to return the items to the temple. However, when the pandemic struck, he was unable to raise funds to redeem the items in time for some ceremonies. He has since redeemed the pawned items and returned all the jewelry to the temple.
Investigation started after ornaments under his custody went missing
The police said in August last year that they were investigating Kandasamy after gold ornaments under his custody went missing. The Sri Mariamman Temple said in a statement, "At the time gold prayer ornaments were kept under the custody of the chief priest in the inner sanctum of the temple. Regular audits are done to ensure that the gold ornaments are physically accounted for."
Kandasamy is having trouble raising the high bail amount
Kandasamy's lawyer asked for a lower bail amount, saying that his client is a foreigner and is unable to raise a high amount for bail. He said Kandasamy had spoken to some people who were prepared to bail him out for 80,000 Singapore dollars ($60,427).
Prosecutor objected to lowering the bail amount
The judge fixed bail at $75,534 saying that it was an appropriate amount for serious offenses allegedly committed while he was in a position of trust. The prosecutor objected to lowering the bail amount, saying the accused poses a flight risk as he has no community or familial ties in Singapore and faces a maximum of 15 years' jail for criminal breach of trust.
Expected sentence if Kandasamy is convicted
Kandasamy will return to the court next month. If convicted he can be fined, jailed for up to 15 years. For removing criminal proceeds from Singapore's jurisdiction, he could be jailed for up to 10 years, fined up to 500,000 Singapore dollars ($377,672), or both.
