Official in Japan’s Haneda Airport nabbed for allegedly stealing money from passengers
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The suspect put the money in his pocket while the victim was passing through the metal detector.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: LIANHE ZAOBAO
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A security screening agent at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport was arrested on Sept 14 on suspicion of stealing money from a passenger at a security checkpoint.
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating additional suspected thefts amounting to about 1.5 million yen (S$13,045) from a total of 80 passengers since August.
According to the MPD, the 21-year-old suspect allegedly stole 90,000 yen after a male passenger placed the money on a tray to be screened on Sept 13 evening. The checkpoint was used by Japan Airlines at the airport’s Terminal 1, which is used for domestic flights.
“I wanted to feel the thrill of stealing money,” the suspect reportedly told the police. “I was going to use it to help pay for daily necessities.”
The suspect put the money in his pocket while the victim was passing through the metal detector. He then went to a toilet in the airport, where he hid the money inside a toilet roll in one of the stalls.
The victim noticed that his money was missing and informed another security agent. The police identified the suspect through security footage.
The suspect was employed by a security service company contracted by JAL. THE JAPAN NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
