Authorities are set to charge a 30-year-old Indonesian man in connection with a theft that occurred on an aircraft, as well as for related cheating offenses.
The incident took place on March 16, 2025, around 4:55 AM, when police received a report regarding the theft of a wallet from a passenger’s handbag, which had been stored in the overhead compartment during a flight to Singapore. Initial investigations indicated that the victim’s debit card, which was in the stolen wallet, was used without authorization at various retail outlets in the transit area of Changi Airport. Upon receiving alerts about these unauthorized transactions through her banking application, the victim promptly contacted the police for assistance.
Thanks to thorough ground inquiries and the review of CCTV footage, officers from the Airport Police Division were able to identify the suspect and apprehended him within an hour of the theft report. Further investigation revealed that the suspect and the victim were acquaintances and had both utilized the same overhead compartment for their belongings during the flight.
The man is scheduled to face charges in court on March 27, 2025, for theft under Section 379 of the Penal Code of 1871, in conjunction with Section 3 of the Tokyo Convention Act of 1971, as well as for cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code of 1871. The theft charge carries a potential penalty of up to three years in prison, a fine, or both, while the cheating charge could result in a maximum of ten years of imprisonment along with a fine.
The police have reiterated their commitment to combating theft on aircraft, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy towards such criminal activities. Assistant Commissioner of Police M Malathi, the Commander of the Airport Police Division, remarked on the importance of the victim having enabled notifications on her banking app, which allowed for a rapid response and the suspect’s arrest before he could leave Singapore. She also cautioned would-be offenders against attempting crimes on aircraft, stating, “Such actions are not worth the risk.”