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SOURCE: The Straits Times

A TEACHER pretended to be unwell and skipped her school’s morning assembly on six occasions.

While her Woodgrove Secondary School colleagues were not in the teachers’ lounge, Feng Tian Tian (right), 22, took the opportunity to take money from their table drawers between July 25 and Aug 22 last year.

On another occasion, the Chinese national filched an iPhone left on a table during lunch time. On Aug 17, the Chinese-language teacher took $89 from the table of another teacher at about 5pm.

Yesterday, she pleaded guilty and was fined $6,000 for stealing money amounting to $719 and a $500 cellphone. A district court heard that after several teachers complained of

missing valuables, suspicion fell on Feng as she was often the only one in the teachers’ lounge during the assembly period. When questioned on Aug 23 by the school’s

discipline master, she admitted to the thefts. Pleading for a lenient sentence, defence counsel Chung Ting Fai said Feng had graduated in 2011 with a degree in

Chinese language and literature. She was selected for the joint China and Ministry of Education teachers’ award scheme and posted to the school for a one-year teaching stint.

The lawyer said she found it hard to adapt to life here and became depressed. Her boyfriend in China had also wanted to break up with her.

A psychiatrist had found she was suffering from a major depressive disorder. “Her teaching career here is over and she would definitely find it difficult to find a job back home,” he added.

In passing sentence, District Judge Eugene Teo noted that Feng had returned the money and cellphone. “No matter how difficult you found it to adjust to the circumstances here,

it is no excuse for your actions,” he said. She could have been jailed for up to two years, or fined up to $10,000, or sentenced to both. The Education Ministry said Feng’s contract,

which has expired, will not be renewed. She was also not recruited under any award schemes. “Teachers who fail to comply with our standards of conduct and discipline will be

subjected to disciplinary action, including dismissal from service,” it said.

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