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| Man jailed for stealing $40,000 from wedding reception in Singapore | Man jailed for stealing $40,000 from wedding reception in Singapore |
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| In many Asian cultures guests gift red envelopes stuffed with money to newlyweds as a sign of luck and good fortune | In many Asian cultures guests gift red envelopes stuffed with money to newlyweds as a sign of luck and good fortune |
| Joy turned to shock for a newlywed couple in Singapore when a thief took off with nearly S$50,000 ($39,083; £28,705) worth of red envelopes from their wedding reception. | Joy turned to shock for a newlywed couple in Singapore when a thief took off with nearly S$50,000 ($39,083; £28,705) worth of red envelopes from their wedding reception. |
| The culprit Lee Yi Wei, who later gambled the money away, was on Tuesday sentenced to a year in jail and ordered to compensate the couple. His jail term will be extended by 100 days if he is unable to pay the money back. | The culprit Lee Yi Wei, who later gambled the money away, was on Tuesday sentenced to a year in jail and ordered to compensate the couple. His jail term will be extended by 100 days if he is unable to pay the money back. |
| The 36-year-old used to serve tables at the hotel in which the wedding was held and was familiar with its layout, a Singapore court heard. | The 36-year-old used to serve tables at the hotel in which the wedding was held and was familiar with its layout, a Singapore court heard. |
| In many Asian cultures, wedding guests typically do not give gifts but rathergive money, typically in red envelopes, to newlyweds as a sign of good luck. | In many Asian cultures, wedding guests typically do not give gifts but rathergive money, typically in red envelopes, to newlyweds as a sign of good luck. |
| These red envelopes are usually slotted into large boxes that are placed at a clearly demarcated table that guests will pass by before entering the wedding hall. | These red envelopes are usually slotted into large boxes that are placed at a clearly demarcated table that guests will pass by before entering the wedding hall. |
| Lee, who was not a guest invited to the wedding on the 5 April, had made off with two such boxes while they were unattended. Upon realising the boxes were missing, the wedding organiser made a police report. | Lee, who was not a guest invited to the wedding on the 5 April, had made off with two such boxes while they were unattended. Upon realising the boxes were missing, the wedding organiser made a police report. |
| The court heard that Lee swiftly spent a few hundred dollars on clothing and gambled away S$12,200 in just four hours, the court heard. | The court heard that Lee swiftly spent a few hundred dollars on clothing and gambled away S$12,200 in just four hours, the court heard. |
| He then converted most of his loot into online gambling credits and placed 195 bets with those credits within three days. | He then converted most of his loot into online gambling credits and placed 195 bets with those credits within three days. |
| By the time he was arrested on 7 April, police managed to seize just S$3,000 from him. | By the time he was arrested on 7 April, police managed to seize just S$3,000 from him. |
| In Singapore, the practice of gifting red envelopes to newlyweds, which started out as a gesture of goodwill, has in recent years been shaped by unspoken rules such as how much to give, with some newlyweds seeing red envelopes as a way of helping them recover their wedding expenses. | |
| Online guides, which provide information on how much to give depending on where and when the event is held, are published and updated annually. | Online guides, which provide information on how much to give depending on where and when the event is held, are published and updated annually. |
| In many Asian cultures, red envelopes are also given out to children or younger unmarried relatives during the Lunar New Year. | In many Asian cultures, red envelopes are also given out to children or younger unmarried relatives during the Lunar New Year. |