Bulahan Temiel Valdenibro, 32, who worked for the century-old Islamic Restaurant along North Bridge Road was jailed for 21 months at the State Courts last Friday (20 December). (PHOTO: Getty Images)

SINGAPORE — An employee of a well-known briyani restaurant siphoned nearly $100,000 over two years to fund his gambling habit, a court heard.

Bulahan Temiel Valdenibro, 32, who worked for the century-old Islamic Restaurant along North Bridge Road was jailed for 21 months at the State Courts last Friday (20 December).

The Filipino pleaded guilty to three out of four charges of criminal breach of trust as a servant.

Valdenibro was employed as a quality control manager by the family-owned restaurant and handled the company’s purchases, licensing and its seven bank accounts, the court heard.

As part of his work, he was entrusted with the company’s internet banking tokens.

From January 2017 until January this year, Valdenibro transferred various sums of cash from two of the company’s bank accounts to his personal bank account. The total amount he misappropriated was $96,997.77.

He would use the money to gamble at Marina Bay Sands Casino.

On 24 January, the restaurant’s owner was alerted to discrepancies in a payment voucher to one of the company’s suppliers. The owner then discovered that company funds had been misappropriated and made a police report two days later.

The amount involved in Valdenibro’s proceeded charges was $86,074.77. No restitution has been made thus far.

Deputy Public Prosecutor V Jesudevan asked for a 21-month sentence, in line with previous criminal breach of trust cases involving similar amounts.

District Judge Christopher Tan backdated Valdenibro’s jail term to the date of his remand on 22 November.

The maximum punishment for criminal breach of trust as a servant is up to 15 years’ jail and a fine.

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