Man jailed for theft of $1.4m worth of Apple products at Changi Airfreight Centre

A man, who stole $1.4 million worth of Apple products from Changi Airfreight Centre with two others two years ago, was jailed on Thursday.

Ong Chip Siong, 32, a former delivery assistant, pleaded guilty to the following offences: theft of 4,394 pieces of iPads, iPhones and accessories, driving without a valid licence, drug trafficking, possession, consumption and possessing drug utensils.

He was sentenced to a total of 12 years and ordered to be given 17 strokes of the cane on eight proceeded charges. The theft was committed at Dubai National Air Travel Agency (dnata) Terminal with Ivan Lee Kah Leong, 34, and Lee Seng Hua, 36, on Sept 18, 2011. Both Lees have been dealt with.

The court heard that Ong was working at the Changi Airfreight Centre when he agreed with his accomplices to steal the shipment of electronic goods from Shenzhen, China, at dnata Terminal.

Ong assisted in loading the goods onto a lorry and drove it out of the centre to a storage space at Goldpine Industrial Building. He received $22,000 from the proceeds of the resale of the stolen goods to a Hongkong buyer for $970,220. Goods totalling $390,201 were recovered.

Ong was caught driving without a licence at Lavender Street earlier that day. He was also convicted of six drug-related charges including drug trafficking and consumption.

Sixteen other charges were considered during sentencing.

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