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Okuni
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Jun 24, 2011
Filipinos jailed for jewellery theft
By Elena Chong
Three members of a jewellery theft syndicate were jailed on Friday for theft. -- PHOTO: POH HENG JEWELLERY
THREE members of a jewellery theft syndicate were jailed on Friday for theft.
Jose G. Puna alias Banal Eduardo Cruz, 63, unemployed, Valbarez Fidel IV Martelino, 56, a tailor, and Felipe Marcos Pebenito alias Balajadia Porfirio Leabres, 53, a trader, each pleaded guilty to between two and four charges.
A district court heard that the three Filipinos stole a diamond bracelet and a pair of gold earrings totalling $11,195 at Valuemax Retail at Tampines Central on March 26.
Eight days later (April 3), they got away with two pairs of diamond earrings totalling $46,860 at Doris Vinci Shop at Centrepoint, Orchard Road. After their arrest the next day, police from the Bedok division found two silver rings in Puna's possession.
He admitted to having dishonestly taken them from a shop in Chinatown. Puna had also made a false declaration by saying he had not entered Singapore under a different passport bearing a different name on March 24. He had thus entered Singapore illegally.
He was given a total sentence of 20 months and a $2,000 fine. Pebenito was given two years for contravening a prohibition entry order and 20 months for theft, while Martelino's sentence was 16 months.
