Taking an oBike home is illegal - even if company has shut down, say lawyers

Users could face criminal charges if a police report is filed against him or her for taking an oBike home. ST PHOTO: TIMOTHY DAVID
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SINGAPORE - The wheels may have come off for bicycle-sharing operator oBike, which has shut down its operations in Singapore. However, lawyers have warned anybody thinking of taking one of its 70,000 two-wheelers left scattered around the island that doing so would be illegal.

Since the unexpected June 25 announcement of the company's closure, videos have circulated online detailing how to dismantle the electronic lock found on the rear wheel of each oBike.

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