Chinese national jailed for stealing from passenger on Scoot flight from Jeju to S’pore
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Zhang Youqi, 30, searched a woman's bag on board a flight and took over $1,000 from it.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: ST FILE
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SINGAPORE – A Chinese national decided to search a woman’s bag for valuables after he spotted her with a branded haversack on a flight from South Korea to Singapore in early February.
He found a chance to do so before the plane landed, and he took out US$885 ($1,180) and hid it.
Zhang Youqi, 30, was caught when he attempted to return the bag to the overhead compartment
On Feb 25, Zhang was sentenced to eight months’ jail after pleading guilty to committing theft against another passenger while on board an aircraft.
District Judge Koo Zhi Xuan said that while the number of thefts on board Singapore-controlled aircraft may not yet be as concerning as other countries in the region, a heavy sentence is needed to send the right message.
“The court has to impose a sufficiently severe sentence to deter not only individual travellers who succumb to a moment of greed, but also criminal syndicates from targeting Singapore-controlled aircraft,” he said.
The prosecution said Zhang, who was employed as a tour guide at the time, boarded a Scoot flight from Jeju to Singapore on Feb 4.
Zhang and the woman were allocated seats on the same row, but he had moved to sit at a different row as there were empty seats on the plane.
During the flight, Zhang spotted the woman reaching for her brown Gucci bag, as she had purchased food on the plane and needed her credit card.
Court documents do not say how Zhang managed to take the bag without the woman noticing.
But he admitted to removing the bag and bringing it back to where he was sitting. He then searched the contents and removed US$885, before hiding the money in the overhead compartment of another row.
He then attempted to return the bag to the overhead compartment, but she spotted him, and Zhang lied that he was looking for his own bag.
Zhang then proceeded to open a few other overhead compartments, pretending to look for his own luggage, but was confronted by the woman after she realised money was missing from her bag.
He denied taking the money, even after two other passengers said they saw him with the woman’s bag.
The money, which was stashed in another row, was discovered by the cabin crew upon the plane’s arrival in Singapore.
He later admitted that he had stolen the money to pay off debts he had incurred in China. Zhang was arrested on the same day.
Those found guilty of theft can be jailed for up to three years, fined, or both.
