Russian lady accuses English tutor of theft

An English language teacher was accused of stealing jewelry worth at least P100,000 owned by a Russian tourist  in barangay Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City.

A theft complaint was filed against Jill Ycong, a father of three,  before the Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutors’ Office yesterday.

In the detention cell, Ycong admitted taking a gold bracelet of the tourist, and tried to settle the case by offering to pay double its worth.

The complainant, 27-year-old  Shaba Nova Esenia,  presented  a video  that  recorded the theft, said police.

The Russian tourist, who arrived in Cebu last May, and was taking  English language lessons at her rented room with Ycong as her tutor.

She  told police that she had suspected Ycong of stealing her gold ring, which she lost  last week.

Last Monday night, Ycong went to her pension house in barangay Maribago for their regular tutorial session.

Esenia said she came up with a plan to  catch the teacher.

She  intentionally left a  bracelet on top of a table then turned on the  video camera of her Ipad.  While the tutorial lesson was ongoing, Esenia said she and her friend left the room for a while and left the teacher alone in the house.

The bracelet was gone when they returned a few minutes later.

Esenia said they confronted the tutor  and called the police.

Police said a gold bracelet was recovered from Ycong’s possession.

At the police station, the teacher admitted taking the bracelet but denied stealing her gold ring.

Ycong tried to settle the case by offering to pay  for the missing ring but the Russian said she  determined to press charges. Police said the complainant was even willing to prolong her stay in Cebu to pursue the case./CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA