Rochester chemical theft charges dismissed

The Olmsted County Attorney’s Office has dismissed felony theft charges against Eng Kiong Ng, a former employee of a Rochester, Minnesota, chemical company. The company, which produces compounds for gemstone coating, had accused Ng of stealing approximately $9,901 worth of property.

According to investigators, surveillance footage from October 2023 allegedly showed Ng transferring a chemical mixture valued at $9,200 into a mason jar and removing it from the premises. The allegations also included the theft of an employee-issued laptop and an airbrush.

The prosecution dismissed the criminal case after attorneys for the company stated that proceeding to trial would cause the client “extreme financial hardship.” A civil case regarding the matter remains ongoing.