2 women arrested for misusing boarding passes at Changi Airport to shop, meet Korean idols

People who enter Changi Airport's transit areas, which are gazetted as protected places, with a boarding pass should only be there for the purpose of travelling to their next destinations. PHOTO: ST FILE

SINGAPORE - Two women in their 20s were arrested on separate occasions for misusing their boarding pass at Changi Airport, said the police on Thursday (Feb 1).

In the earlier case on Sunday, a 20-year-old woman bought an air ticket to meet members of a South Korean boy band.

Two days later, a 23-year-old woman used her air ticket to shop at retail stores in the transit area.

The two women had no intention of departing from Singapore, said the police in a statement on Facebook.

In its statement, the police said transit areas of Changi Airport are gazetted as protected places and that passengers who enter the transit areas with a boarding pass should only be there for the purpose of travelling to their destinations.

Those who misuse their boarding pass to enter transit areas with no intention to travel out of Singapore are liable for an offence under the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act, the police added.

Offenders may be prosecuted in court and if convicted, face a $1,000 fine, two years' prison, or both.

Last year, 92 people were arrested for misusing their boarding passes.

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