(In singapore) Man jailed for stealing $40,000 from wedding reception

 

A newlywed couple in Singapore experienced a devastating turn of events when their wedding reception was targeted by a thief who made off with almost $40,000 in cash gifts. The incident took place on April 5 during a celebration at a hotel. The stolen money had been given in the form of red envelopes, a traditional gift in many Asian cultures where guests present cash to newlyweds as a symbol of good fortune and to help with wedding expenses.

The man responsible, 36-year-old Lee Yi Wei, had previously worked as a waiter at the same hotel. Leveraging his familiarity with the venue, Lee managed to walk in unnoticed and stole two boxes filled with red envelopes while they were left unattended. He was not invited to the wedding.

Within hours, Lee had already begun spending the stolen money. He used some of it on clothes and quickly lost around $9,000 to gambling. Over the next few days, he continued to gamble heavily, placing nearly 200 online bets using the rest of the funds. By the time he was arrested on April 7, the police were only able to recover about $2,200 from him.

The theft not only shocked the couple but also highlighted the financial risks around unprotected cash gifts at weddings. Red envelopes are a deep-rooted tradition in Singapore and many parts of Asia, where their use extends beyond weddings to include Lunar New Year and other family events. However, as weddings grow more expensive, some couples rely on these envelopes to offset their costs  making such thefts even more harmful. Lee has been sentenced to one year in jail and ordered to pay full restitution. Failure to do so will result in an additional 100 days behind bars.

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Lee Yi Wei, a 36-year-old former hotel waiter, has been sentenced to jail for stealing nearly $40,000 in red envelope cash gifts during a wedding at a Singapore hotel. Red envelopes, or “ang bao,” are traditional cash gifts commonly given during weddings and celebrations in Asian cultures. On April 5, Lee took advantage of a moment when two boxes of red envelopes were left unattended, swiftly making off with them while posing as a guest.

Although he was no longer working at the hotel, his past experience there gave him insider knowledge of its layout, helping him avoid detection. The stolen cash was meant to support the newlyweds, who, like many couples, had counted on the red envelope contributions to recover part of their wedding expenses.

Lee’s actions after the theft were just as alarming. In less than four hours, he spent hundreds on clothes and lost more than $9,000 at a casino. Over the following days, he converted most of the remaining cash into online gambling credits, placing nearly 200 bets. By the time authorities caught up with him on April 7, only a fraction of the money had been recovered.

The case has sparked discussion around the vulnerability of cash gifts at events and the need for greater safeguards, particularly when the financial stakes are high. It has also drawn attention to how cultural practices, like red envelope giving, are being shaped by modern expectations, including pressure on guests to give more and couples relying on those gifts to ease financial strain.

Lee was handed a one-year jail sentence and is required to repay the full amount he stole. If he fails to do so, his sentence will be extended by 100 days  a decision meant to reflect both the financial and emotional toll his actions caused.