A former technician at SIA Engineering Company has been sentenced to 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to stealing company property, including laptops and hard drives. According to court documents, 32-year-old Muhammad Hidayat Bin Mohamad Yusof committed the thefts between 2022 and 2023, exploiting his access to secure areas to remove equipment for personal financial gain.
How the theft was discovered
The security breach came to light following an internal audit at the company’s facilities. SIA Engineering Company, a major provider of aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul services, conducted a routine inventory check that revealed discrepancies in its hardware assets. Following the discovery, the company launched an internal investigation and subsequently filed a police report. Investigators determined that Hidayat had bypassed internal security protocols to remove the items, which he later sold to third parties.
What was the scope of the stolen items?
The stolen hardware included multiple laptops and various high-capacity hard drives containing proprietary data. While the company has not publicly detailed the specific nature of the data stored on the drives, such equipment in an aviation maintenance environment often contains sensitive technical manuals, maintenance logs, and operational software. According to the prosecution, the total value of the stolen equipment was significant enough to warrant a custodial sentence. The court noted that the defendant’s actions represented a serious breach of the trust placed in him as a technical employee.
Why the sentencing matters
This case highlights the ongoing challenges companies face regarding “insider threats”—employees who leverage their legitimate access to compromise physical and digital security. In Singapore, theft by a servant—an offense under the Penal Code—carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and a fine. By sentencing Hidayat to 10 months, the court underscored the necessity of deterring employees from exploiting their positions for theft, particularly in industries where the security of technical data is paramount.
Key facts about the case
- Defendant: Muhammad Hidayat Bin Mohamad Yusof.
- Employer: SIA Engineering Company.
- Sentence: 10 months imprisonment.
- Offense: Theft by a servant under the Penal Code.
- Timeline: The thefts occurred over a period spanning 2022 and 2023.
SIA Engineering Company has stated that it continues to review its internal security measures to prevent similar incidents. The company confirmed it cooperated fully with law enforcement throughout the investigation and prosecution process. Legal experts suggest that this case serves as a warning for organizations to maintain rigorous inventory controls and strict monitoring of hardware access, even among long-term or trusted staff.