A food stall assistant who exploited loopholes in Food Junction’s stored-value card system to unlawfully obtain more than S$41,000 has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison, highlighting the serious consequences of abusing digital payment systems and workplace trust.
Long-Term Scheme Exploited System Weaknesses
The offender, Zhang Gui, 47, a Chinese national, pleaded guilty to one charge under the Computer Misuse Act, with two additional related charges taken into consideration during sentencing. The court heard that Zhang carried out the fraudulent scheme over a prolonged period, capitalising on technical oversights during a transition in Food Junction’s payment infrastructure.
Food Junction launched its stored-value card programme in October 2021, allowing customers to preload money onto cards and enjoy discounts when paying for meals at its food courts. Initially, card top-ups were handled manually at individual stalls through NETS terminals.
However, the system changed on Nov 1, 2021, when Food Junction rolled out self-service kiosks for card top-ups, and stalls were no longer authorised to assist customers with loading value onto cards.
Abuse of NETS Terminal Privileges
Despite the operational change, Zhang discovered that his stall’s NETS terminal still retained the technical capability to load value onto Food Junction cards. Rather than reporting the anomaly, he exploited it.
Between Oct 30, 2021, and Nov 21, 2023, Zhang conducted 2,070 unauthorised top-up transactions, loading S$41,370 onto Food Junction NETS FlashPay cards without making any corresponding cash or electronic payments.
These illicitly topped-up cards were then used by Zhang to pay for food and beverages for himself and his friends across multiple Food Junction outlets, effectively allowing him to enjoy free meals over more than two years.
Detection and Arrest
The scheme unraveled in November 2023, when NETS flagged suspicious transaction patterns linked to Zhang’s stall. Investigators noted repeated S$10 and S$20 top-ups occurring without matching payment records, despite clear rules prohibiting stall-based top-ups.
A review of CCTV footage by Food Junction management confirmed Zhang was repeatedly loading value onto multiple cards at his stall. When confronted on Nov 23, 2023, Zhang admitted to the wrongdoing and was arrested later that day.
Food Junction officially terminated its card programme shortly after, on Nov 28, 2023.
No Restitution Made
The court was told that Zhang has not made any restitution to Food Junction, despite the significant financial losses incurred by the company.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ashley Chin argued for a jail sentence of 30 to 40 months, stressing the seriousness of the offence, the extended duration of the fraud, and the deliberate abuse of trust.
“The accused was only able to commit these offences because of his position as a stall assistant. This was a sustained and calculated misuse of the system,” the prosecutor said.
Court Emphasises Abuse of Trust and Digital Crime Risks
In sentencing Zhang to two years and eight months’ imprisonment, the court underscored the growing risks posed by digital payment misuse, especially in retail and food service environments where employees are entrusted with financial systems.
Under the Computer Misuse Act, Zhang could have faced a maximum sentence of 10 years’ jail, a fine of up to S$50,000, or both.
Broader Implications for Businesses
The case serves as a cautionary tale for businesses transitioning between payment technologies. It highlights the importance of timely system audits, access controls, and employee oversight when introducing or discontinuing digital financial tools.
For employers, the incident reinforces the need to close legacy system loopholes promptly. For employees, it sends a clear message: misusing workplace systems for personal gain carries severe legal consequences, regardless of the amounts involved or the perceived ease of exploiting digital platforms.