SINGAPORE — A 77-year-old man is assisting police with investigations after he was allegedly caught on CCTV taking cash from a wishing bowl at a temple in Eunos — before clasping his hands and praying in front of the deity statue.

The unusual incident, which was captured on surveillance cameras at Hoon Sian Keng Temple along Changi Road, has drawn attention in Singapore after footage of the man was shared online by the temple.

The incident happened on Aug. 28 at around 1.30pm, according to reports by AsiaOne and other Singapore media outlets.

CCTV Shows Man Looking at Donation Boxes Before Alleged Theft

Surveillance footage reportedly showed the man, dressed in a blue shirt, walking through different areas of the temple.

At around 1.28pm, he was seen looking into one of the temple’s donation boxes before clasping his hands in a prayer gesture and moving away.

He then reportedly went to another donation box and appeared to inspect it as well.

However, the man did not allegedly take money from the official donation boxes.

Instead, at around 1.31pm, he was seen reaching into an open wishing bowl placed in front of a deity statue and removing cash, according to AsiaOne. The footage then showed him placing the money into his shirt pocket.

What happened next has become the most talked-about part of the incident.

The man then clasped his hands together and appeared to pray or bow before the statue before calmly walking away.

About $200 Allegedly Taken From Wishing Bowl

Temple representatives estimated that about S$200 was taken from the wishing bowl.

Unlike the temple’s official donation boxes, the wishing bowl was open and accessible to devotees who place coins and banknotes inside after making wishes.

According to reports from Stomp and Chinese-language media, temple staff normally clear the money from the bowl at the end of each day and transfer it into the official donation boxes.

The temple’s chairman, Chen Jing Liang, reportedly said there were three staff members at the premises when the incident happened, but they were occupied with preparations for an upcoming celebration and did not immediately notice the man’s actions.

The man reportedly raised suspicions before leaving when he allegedly asked a temple secretary for S$10, prompting staff to review the CCTV footage.

Temple Says Incident Was Over in Minutes

Temple representatives said the alleged theft was carried out quickly.

Based on CCTV footage, the entire sequence reportedly took less than five minutes.

The temple said it did not recognise the man and believed he may have been familiar with the premises because of how quickly he moved around the temple.

However, this has not been independently established by police and remains the temple’s assessment.

The temple stressed that making the incident public was not intended to target or shame the elderly man, but to remind the public to remain vigilant and prevent similar incidents.

Police Report Filed; Investigations Ongoing

The temple subsequently lodged a police report.

Singapore police confirmed that a 77-year-old man is assisting with investigations, which remain ongoing.

As of the latest reports, authorities have not announced charges in connection with the Eunos temple incident.

Because police investigations are still underway, the allegations against the man have not been proven in court.

Temple Had Been Targeted Before

The latest incident is not the first time Hoon Sian Keng Temple has faced a suspected theft.

Reports said the temple experienced another incident in 2023, when thieves allegedly targeted donation money.

According to Stomp, more than S$1,000 in donations was stolen in that earlier incident. The temple subsequently upgraded its CCTV system and allowed staff to monitor surveillance footage remotely.

Following the latest case, temple representatives said they were considering additional security improvements, including movable CCTV cameras near donation boxes and wishing bowls.

Temple Theft Cases Have Also Emerged Elsewhere in Singapore

The Eunos case comes amid several recent reports involving alleged thefts from places of worship in Singapore.

In August, Singapore police announced the arrest of two Chinese nationals who were suspected of breaking into a temple along Tai Gin Road and stealing between S$300 and S$400 from donation boxes. Police said the men were identified with the help of CCTV footage after they returned to Singapore.

Police said the suspects allegedly used a card with adhesive tape to remove cash from donation boxes. The case was separate from the Eunos temple incident.

Another case in Bedok involved a 55-year-old man who was arrested in July over suspected housebreaking and theft at a temple, where cash was allegedly taken from donation boxes.

The Prayer That Left Viewers Talking

For many people who watched the Eunos temple footage, however, it was not only the alleged theft that stood out.

It was what the man did afterwards.

After allegedly placing the cash into his pocket, the 77-year-old was seen bringing his hands together and appearing to pray before leaving the temple.

Whether it was a gesture of worship, regret or an attempt to seek forgiveness remains unknown.

But the image has sparked a wave of reactions online — and raised a simple question:

If you knew what you did was wrong, would you still do it?

For now, police investigations into the incident remain ongoing.

WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D