Indonesian jailed for stealing credit cards of hotel guests

Dressed in designer wear, Shahna Liu Mei Li would breeze into Marina Bay Sands Hotel pretending to be a guest.

But she was there to steal and cheat.

Over three visits to the hotel, the 39-year-old filched the credit cards of those using the swimming pool at the hotel and used them to buy more than $12,000 worth of luxury sunglasses, earrings, shoes and clothes from nearby boutiques.

On Wednesday in court, Liu, who was wearing a simple white blouse and denim jeans, broke down in tears when she was sentenced to 20 months in jail.

The Indonesian, who was also accused of trying to use the credit cards on another $17,000 worth of purchases, pleaded guilty to all the charges.

The court was told how the unemployed woman, who has an apartment here, would come to Singapore regularly on a social visit pass.

Her crime spree started on Sept 28 last year, when she stole two credit cards belonging to a Romanian hotel guest who was swimming in the hotel pool at 8pm.

She then used the cards to buy skincare products and a pair of shoes for nearly $3,000.

On Nov 17, she struck again, this time taking four credit cards belonging to a Filipino national. She then hit the shops for $7,600 worth of sunglasses, earrings, shoes and other accessories.

She returned to the hotel on Jan 28, stealing a credit card from a Japanese tourist staying there. She went on to splurge around $1,400 on clothes and a pair of sunglasses.

By then, police were already on her trail. She was subsequently arrested and charged with trying to cheat shops of $29,230.

Theft is punishable with a jail term of up to three years and a fine.

For cheating, Liu could have been jailed for up to 10 years and fined.

khush@sph.com.sg

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