Fate of a Mother Who Stole Milk to Feed Her Children
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- Woman steals milk due to financial hardships
- Charge reduced to fine instead of jail to ensure child care
A woman in her twenties stole tins of powdered milk from a store in Singapore to feed her two- and three-year-old children after her husband, the family’s sole breadwinner, suddenly lost his job, plunging the family into severe financial difficulty.
She was charged with theft in a dwelling in 2023 and faced possible jail time, before public defender Victoria Tay intervened.
Tay successfully reduced the charge to si
A woman in her twenties stole tins of powdered milk from a store in Singapore to feed her two- and three-year-old children after her husband, the family’s sole breadwinner, suddenly lost his job, plunging the family into severe financial difficulty.
mple theft and secured a fine instead of imprisonment.
The woman was fined $3,500, payable in installments, allowing her to keep her administrative assistant job and continue caring for her children.
Tay told a newspaper that the family was barely getting by, adding: “The couple shared a plate of chicken rice to save some money for the children.”
She noted that the husband was then in jail for theft.
The lawyer added: “This case is a moving reminder that people sometimes make poor choices in their hardest moments. Lawyers help them take responsibility while ensuring the punishment is fair, considering personal circumstances.”
Public defender officials emphasized treating all defendants with dignity and respect, understanding the motivations behind their actions, and adapting communication accordingly, noting that compassion and understanding are essential parts of their work.