2 Chinese nationals arrested at airport for theft after man was seen rummaging through woman's bag on flight
Two male Chinese nationals, aged 35 and 40, were arrested for their suspected involvement in a case of theft on board an aircraft on June 2.
The police were alerted at about 8.50pm to the case onboard an aircraft enroute from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the younger man seen was removing some items after rummaging through the contents of a female passenger's bag, which was in the overhead compartment.
The man's suspicious behaviour caught the attention of a couple seated nearby, who continued to observe him throughout the flight.
After the aircraft had landed in Singapore, the couple saw the female passenger retrieving the bag and realised that the man was not the owner.
After disembarking from the aircraft, the couple alerted the female passenger and notified the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and the police for assistance.
Through information provided by the couple and with the aid of images from CCTVs, officers from the Airport Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him at a lounge in the transit area of Changi Airport Terminal 1 within one hour of the report.
The other man, believed to be his accomplice, was also arrested and cash amounting $169 was recovered from him.
The police also recovered two debit cards belonging to the female passenger from a rubbish bin where the two men had traversed before they were arrested by the police.
The duo will be charged in court on June 4 for the offence of theft with common intention, which carries an imprisonment term of up to three years, a fine, or both.
Commander of Airport Police Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police M Malathi, said, "The two observant passengers who came forward played a crucial role in assisting the police and victim by notifying the suspicious behaviour they had observed onboard the aircraft.
"Their prompt reporting and detailed testimonies aided in the swift arrest of the suspects and substantiation of the crime which is inherently challenging due to the transient and time-sensitive nature of air travel."
