PUBLISHED ONAugust 07, 2026 12:30 PMBYSean LerA 60-year-old male Chinese national will be charged in court on Saturday (Aug 8) for allegedly stealing from a fellow passenger onboard an aircraft.
Police said in a news release on Friday (Aug 7) evening that the alleged crime took place onboard a Singapore-bound flight on Thursday.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the Chinese national had allegedly removed a passenger's backpack from an overhead compartment, placed the bag beside him and rummaged through its contents before returning it to the compartment without the victim's knowledge.
Noticing the man's suspicious behaviour, a passenger onboard the aircraft, Silas Wong, kept him under observation.
After the aircraft landed at Changi Airport, Wong located the backpack's owner and alerted him to what he had witnessed.
The victim then checked his belongings and discovered that 250 Euros (S$369.55) were missing from his backpack.
Wong subsequently contacted the police at about 11.20pm.
Officers from the Airport Police Division was able to establish the 50-year-old's identity with information provided by Wong and with the aid of closed-circuit television footage.
The man was arrested and the police also recovered the 250 euros from his possession.
The offence of theft, read with the Tokyo Convention Act, carries a penalty of up to three years jail, a fine, or both.
Commander of Airport Police Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police M. Malathi, commended Wong for his keen observation and willingness to step forward.
She said Wong's actions were "instrumental" in the swift detection of the alleged crime.
"Due to the transient nature of air travel, such offences can often be difficult to uncover. His actions are exemplary and serve as an encouragement for others to remain vigilant and help ensure safer air travel for everyone.”
[[nid:742165]]
