A chef who had worked for a Toa Payoh stall owner for about a decade allegedly stole more than S$4,000 in takings before disappearing, despite having previously been forgiven for stealing from his employer.
The Malaysian chef, identified only by his surname Chen, is accused of taking about S$4,300 from a food stall at Kim Keat Avenue after gaining access to the premises using a female colleague’s key.
His employer, a 65-year-old stall owner who asked to be identified as Tony, said Chen had previously admitted to thefts but was given second chances because of his good work performance.
The latest incident has left Tony claiming that Chen owes him more than S$70,000 in loans, salary advances and other payments.
Chef allegedly confesses after owner finds cash bags at home
According to Tony, Chen stopped reporting for work on Aug. 27 and could not be contacted.
Worried about his employee, Tony went to Chen’s home to look for him.
When Chen opened the door, Tony noticed several bags normally used by the stall to store cash on a table inside the home.
Tony said Chen appeared to realise that the missing money would eventually be discovered and asked his employer to wait outside.
The chef then allegedly confessed to stealing the money.
Tony said Chen knelt down and cried, promising to write a letter of apology.
But Tony later discovered that around S$4,300 in stall earnings from the previous two to three days was missing.
Chen allegedly admitted that he had taken a female worker’s key, entered the stall and removed the cash before deleting CCTV footage.
Tony said he was furious but restrained himself.
Chef allegedly disappeared the next day
The incident took another turn the following day when one of the stall’s female workers received a message from Chen saying that he had left and could no longer repay his debts.
Tony subsequently lodged a police report at about 4pm.
Police have confirmed that a report was made and that investigations are ongoing.
Chen’s current whereabouts are unknown.
Tony believes he may have travelled to Vietnam, where Chen allegedly has a girlfriend and a one-year-old child.
Employer says he had forgiven Chen twice before
Tony said the alleged theft was not the first time Chen had taken money from him.
In 2019, Chen was allegedly caught stealing S$260.
In June 2026, he was allegedly caught taking another S$3,600.
On both occasions, Chen reportedly wrote letters expressing remorse and was forgiven.
Tony said Chen had knelt down and begged for forgiveness after the June incident, promising to repay S$1,500 every month.
The employer said he continued to trust Chen because of his long service and work attitude.
That trust now appears to have been badly damaged.
Boss says chef owes him more than S$70,000
Tony said the financial losses extend well beyond the latest alleged theft.
He claimed he had previously lent Chen S$40,000 to buy a house and helped him repay more than S$10,000 in loans from loan sharks.
Chen had also allegedly received advances for his September and October salaries as well as an advance payment of his December bonus.
Taking all of these amounts into account, Tony estimates that Chen owes him more than S$70,000.
Tony also said Chen earned about S$4,400 a month, with food and accommodation provided.
Other workers allegedly lost thousands
Chen allegedly borrowed money from several colleagues as well.
Tony claimed the total amount owed to other employees exceeds S$30,000, with individual loans ranging from several hundred dollars to S$16,000.
One employee, identified as 24-year-old Ge, said Chen borrowed S$2,500 from her on Aug. 28, telling her he had an emergency and would repay her soon.
She said she has not heard from him since.
Another chef, known as Ah Jian, 30, said he had lent Chen S$16,000 and was shocked to learn that he had disappeared.
The alleged debts have left Chen’s colleagues facing their own financial losses while police investigate the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
Police investigation ongoing
The case remains an allegation, and no conviction has been reported.
Police have confirmed that a report was lodged and that investigations are ongoing.
The latest incident has also raised questions about how an employee who had previously been accused of theft continued to have access to cash and the stall’s premises.
For Tony, the case is particularly painful because he said he had repeatedly helped Chen financially and given him opportunities to rebuild his trust.
After nearly 10 years of employment, the alleged S$4,300 theft has now been followed by a disappearance and claims of more than S$100,000 in combined debts to his employer and colleagues.
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