Singapore – A Filipino domestic worker in Singapore is now behind bars after helping herself to more than S$217,000 (roughly US$168,000) from her employer’s safe, then quietly funneling the loot into condo units, vehicles, and farmland in the Philippines.
Raguindin Alma Bassig, 47, was sentenced to three years and two months in jail on July 17, 2026. According to a news report, she pulled off the thefts over four years before getting caught red-handed on camera.
How the Thefts Happened
Bassig had worked for the same family for nearly a decade and was trusted with access to every room in the house. That trust made it easy for her to spot the employer’s safe, tucked inside an unlocked wardrobe, and later find the key hidden in a coat pocket.
Once she was inside, she took her time. Whenever the family was out, she scooped up foreign cash and high-end jewellery, then carried it home to the Philippines during her yearly leave. There, she either sold, pawned, or stashed the items and used the money to fund property and vehicle purchases.
The stolen haul included:
- Cash in euros, pounds, and yen
- Multiple Van Cleef & Arpels luxury pieces
- Gold, jade, and silver items
- A princess-cut diamond set worth about S$18,000
Caught on Camera
The employer only grew suspicious in late 2025, when she noticed missing cash but figured she had simply misplaced it. To be sure, she set up a motion-sensor camera in her bedroom in May 2026.
Two days later, the camera flagged movement. The footage showed Bassig opening the safe and removing items. The employer filed a police report that same night, and Bassig was arrested shortly after midnight.
Court’s Verdict
The presiding judge did not hold back, calling the total amount stolen “staggering” and saying Bassig had “gravely abused” her employer’s trust. He stressed that the case called for a firm, deterrent sentence.
None of the stolen property has been recovered, and no money has been paid back.
What OFWs Can Take From This
For the many Filipinos working abroad, this case is a hard reminder that trust is everything on the job. One person’s greed can cast a shadow over thousands of honest OFWs who work hard and stay loyal to the families who employ them.