Latest news with #TheStraitTimes
News18
5 days ago
- News18
Indian Man Arrested For Stealing Bags, Cosmetics Worth Rs 3.5 Lakh From Singapore Airport
Last Updated: An Indian man was arrested for stealing items worth over Rs 3.5 lakh from 14 shops at Singapore's Jewel Changi Airport. He was caught upon returning to Singapore on June 1. An Indian man was arrested on Thursday for allegedly stealing items worth over Rs 3.5 lakh from several shops at Singapore's Jewel Changi Airport and the airport's transit area, The Strait Times reported. The 38-year-old accused is believed to have targeted at least 14 shops, stealing items such as bags, perfumes, and cosmetics worth a total of Singapore Dollars (SGD) 5,136, according to a press release issued by the Singapore Police Force (SPF). After committing the crime, the accused boarded the flight and left the country. But upon his return to Singapore on June 1, the 38-year-old was arrested, the police said. The incident came to light on May 29 after a retail supervisor at one of the shops at the airport noticed a bag missing while checking the stock. The supervisor then notified the police about the theft. CCTV footage reportedly showed the Indian man taking the item and leaving without paying. 'Preliminary investigations revealed that a supervisor at the store had realised a bag was missing after a stocktaking," the police were quoted as saying to Straits Times. The authorities managed to identify the accused after the initial thefts, but he had already left Singapore by the time they confirmed his identity. However, on June 1, when he returned and was found transiting through Changi Airport, he was arrested. The police said that the stolen items were recovered from the man, who is now expected to be charged on July 25 with theft and fraudulent possession of property. 'Offenders should not think that they can evade capture by quickly boarding a flight. The police will continue to work closely with stakeholders to prevent and deter shop theft cases," police said, as per the news outlet. In another incident last month, one of the two women from India, who were caught stealing from shops at Changi Airport during their transit, was jailed for eight days. Goenka Simran, 29, was sentenced to eight days jail after she pleaded guilty to one count of theft in dwelling. Earlier this year, another Indian national was arrested for stealing over SGD 1,800 (INR 1,14,705) worth of items from five shops at Changi Airport. A court handed Singh Sagar, 37, five theft charges for stealing items including stationery, chocolates and jewellery from Terminal 3's departure transit area in about three hours on March 23, Straits Times reported. Recently, the US Embassy in India issued a warning to visa holders and applicants, following the incident where an Indian woman was caught shoplifting items worth approximately Rs 1.1 lakh at a Target store in Illinois. view comments First Published: July 24, 2025, 18:29 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Indian Express
Indian man arrested for stealing Rs 3.5 lakh worth of makeup, bags from Singapore Airport
A 38-year-old Indian man was arrested for allegedly stealing several items worth around Rs 3.5 lakh from multiple stores at Singapore's Jewel Changi Airport and the airport's transit area, The Strait Times reported. According to a press release issued by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) on July 23, the man is believed to have targeted a total of 14 retail outlets, stealing items such as bags, perfumes, and cosmetics before leaving the country. The incident came to light on May 29 after a retail supervisor at one of the shops in Jewel Changi Airport noticed a bag missing while checking the stock. The police were notified at approximately 4.28 pm that day. The report also said that upon reviewing CCTV footage, authorities spotted the suspect taking the item and exiting the shop without making any payment. 'The complainant said that a bag had gone missing from inside the shop located at Jewel Changi Airport,' the police stated. Authorities identified the man, but by then, he had already left Singapore. However, his return to the country on June 1 allowed authorities to take action. Officers from the Airport Police Division nabbed him during transit and searched his luggage. Several items believed to have been stolen were recovered, the report added. Further investigations revealed that the accused had stolen items from 13 other stores within the airport complex, amounting to thousands of dollars in losses. The report also stated that the man is set to be formally charged in court on July 25 with theft and fraudulent possession of property. If convicted, he could face up to seven years in prison, a fine, or both. Recently, the US Embassy in India issued a warning to visa holders and applicants, following the incident where an Indian woman was caught shoplifting items worth approximately Rs 1.1 lakh at a Target store in Illinois. According to reports, the woman was on vacation in the US. She was seen pleading with police officers to let her go, saying she would pay for the items.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Time of India
Japan travel bookings drop amid earthquake fears sparked by manga prediction
Denny generated AI Image Travel bookings to Japan from major Asian markets have significantly decreased before the peak summer period, influenced by earthquake predictions from a manga novel. Social media discussions have sparked concerns among travellers regarding manga artist Ryo Tatsuki's forecast of a catastrophic earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan. Tatsuki, credited by some for predicting the 2011 earthquake, specified July 2025 as the date in a graphic novel published in 1999, The Strait Times reported. The manga's 2021 republication, featuring additional material, has reignited discussions about the earthquake prediction on social media platforms, with warning videos and posts about Japan travel gaining substantial viewership. Despite scientific consensus that precise earthquake timing cannot be determined, flight reservations from Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong have declined since April. Hong Kong bookings have decreased by 50 per cent compared to the previous year, according to ForwardKeys data analysed by Bloomberg Intelligence. Late June to early July arrivals from Hong Kong have reduced by up to 83 per cent. Greater Bay Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines reduced their Japan flights in May as authorities urged people to disregard the speculation. Miyagi prefecture's governor, Yoshihiro Murai, addressed tourism impacts in April, requesting people to dismiss the speculation. The Japan Meteorological Agency emphasised that current scientific methods cannot accurately predict earthquakes. Japan's position in the Ring of Fire, a Pacific Ocean seismic zone, makes it particularly susceptible to earthquakes. Its most recent significant earthquake occurred in 2011, resulting in a tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear incident. Despite these concerns, overall tourism to Japan remains strong, with April recording 3.9 million international visitors, attracted by the favourable exchange rate. "The earthquake speculation is affecting Japan tourism and will temporarily slow growth," stated Eric Zhu, Bloomberg Intelligence's aviation analyst. "Travellers are choosing cautiously, considering other regional short-haul destinations." He anticipates airlines will experience difficulties in coming months, based on booking trends and expected passenger numbers. Tatsuki's work, "The Future I Saw", describes a dream where a tsunami affects Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines. A prominent Hong Kong fengshui master's warnings have further amplified these concerns.
7NEWS
23-04-2025
- Business
- 7NEWS
Aussie restauranteur Jose Pacheco accused of robbing a Singaporean money lender learns his fate
A debt-ridden Australian restauranteur accused of robbing a money lender in Singapore has escaped being caned after pleading guilty to a reduced charge — as the dire financial woes that led to his life spiralling are revealed. Jose Manuel Pacheco, 40, stole $6000 from an Accredit outlet, in the Tampines District, on June 3 last year after threatening a female clerk at knife-point. He fled but was arrested a short time later after detectives spotted him loitering nearby. Pacheco, who has spent the past few years managing various restaurants across Asia after migrating to Singapore from Perth, was originally charged with armed robbery. If he pleaded guilty to that charge, he could have been jailed for up to 10 years and received six strokes of the cane. However, he managed to avoid corporal punishment after his charges were downgraded to theft and criminal intimidation, The Strait Times reports. After pleading guilty to the lesser offences, he was sentenced on March 7 to one year and four months in jail. During the sentencing hearing, the court heard a mental health evaluation found Pacheco to be suffering from moderate to severe major depressive disorder, which contributed to his offending. However, the court heard a mental assessment found he was of sound mind at the time of the theft and capable of appreciating the gravity of his actions. Court documents reveal Pacheco was employed in 2023 as a general food manager of a food and beverage company, working at three of its restaurants and earning $SGD10,000 a month (about $A11,792). In February 2024, he asked his employer for a loan to repay debts to unlicensed money lenders, with the company agreeing on March 1 to lend him $25,3000 on condition it was paid off via monthly $2000 deductions from his salary. But just two months later, on May 13, the company discovered more than $9000 was missing from a restaurant he was managing. Pacheco claimed he had forgotten to deposit the money but, when staff later checked the restaurant's safe, sealed envelopes containing the store's earning were empty, court documents state. After his arrest, Pacheco told detectives he had pocketed the funds from his work between March and May 2024 to repay his debts to unlicensed and licensed money lenders. Still reeling in debt, he hatched a plan to rob the money lender — with CCTV played in court showing Pacheco, disguised in a mask and cap, entering the Accredit on June 3 and pointing a knife at the female employee. According to the documents, he then gave her a duffle bag he had brought with him and demanded she fill it with money. The woman, who was alone in the store at the time, complied with his orders and Pacheco fled the scene. Police arrived a short time later and noticed Pacheco, who matched the clerk's description, sitting on a nearby deck watching investigators. He admitted to robbing the store and was arrested, with detectives discovering him in possession of a knife and $6095 cash in a duffle bag. Pacheco later told detectives he 'needed money desperately' to repay his debts. In court last month, his lawyer Azri Imran Tan said Pacheco had fallen victim to predatory behaviours of loan sharks. 'Our client had taken loans of between $2000 and $3000 from five loan sharks. While the principal sums had been repaid, the said loan sharks continued to demand illegal interest on the same, with his 'debt' ballooning to over $30,000,' Tan said. Tan said Pacheco had faced 'significant and unrelenting harassment' as the loan sharks texted and called him daily, and made threats towards him and his family. Tan said his debts were due on the day of the robbery and he had no way of settling them. Aside from the Tampines money heist charges, Pacheco also pleaded guilty to criminal breach of trust in relation to the misappropriation of funds from his workplace. The court heard he has not made any restitutions to his former employer. Under his sentence, which collectively applies to all three charges, Pacheco will be eligible for release in July 2026. Caning, an excruciatingly painful and injury-inducing punishment that involves being struck on the bare buttocks at speed with a thin rattan cane, is a widely used form of corporal punishment in Singapore for certain serious offences. The punishment, which is typically reserved for healthy men aged 18 to 50, takes place at prisons by specially trained officers and is always ordered in addition to a prison sentence. The practice, which is also common in other South East Asian countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia, remains controversial — with critics arguing it is cruel and inhumane while advocates champion its use as a strong deterrent against crime. Partly due to its strict laws and harsh penalties, Singapore has low crime rates and is considered one of the safest countries in the world.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Yahoo
Smoke from burning power bank fills up plane minutes before landing in Bangkok
A Baltic Air flight began to be filled with smoke from a burning power bank minutes before it landed in Bangkok, with videos posted to social media showing panic among passengers. One nearly four-minute clip, posted on TikTok, shows smoke spreading from the overhead luggage compartment, filling the cabin space. Flight attendants can be seen in the video checking overhead baggage compartments to look for the source of the smoke. Passengers seated close to what seems like the affected part of the cabin can be seen leaving their seats before the attendants opened the compartment to put out the fire using an extinguisher. Some time later, the crew can be seen opening the compartment completely as white smoke pours out. A passenger seated opposite the affected compartment retrieved a black bag and was escorted to the rear of the plane by an attendant carrying the extinguisher. In a follow-up video, TikTok user kentmaherr said the smoke initially looked like 'steam' but was soon accompanied by a strong 'chemical-like smell' as the smoke thickened. 'Thankfully, no one on the flight panicked, everyone was calm,' kentmaherr said, according to The Strait Times. He said he and a few others followed the passenger as he carried his black bag to the back of the plane to see him take a power bank out of the bag, which was finally fully extinguished using three mineral water bottles. Luckily the aircraft, which took off from Johor Bahru, was only 30 minutes away from its destination – Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok – when the smoke started spreading. 'All passengers were shocked by the thick smoke coming out of the luggage compartment, with the smell of fire stinging their noses,' the TikTok user wrote in the video's caption. 'This is the first time I experienced such an incident. I thank Allah for the chance to still be alive!' he said. Several airline operators in Asia have begun enacting changes to their luggage carry policy after an incident involving a fire in the rear of an Air Busan Airbus A321 before takeoff. While no one was killed in that incident, the plane was badly damaged. Korean Air, Asiana, China Airlines, as well as Eva Air, headquartered in Taiwan, have joined the airline in banning power banks, vapes and lithium-ion batteries from overhead compartments. Starting from Saturday 1 March, such items must be kept on a passenger's person at all times.
