Chinese tourist charged for stealing on Kuala Lumpur-Singapore flight

By Hoang Vu March 18, 2025 | 07:26 pm PT

Scoot and Singapore Airlines aircraft sit on the tarmac at Singapore's Changi Airport, March 23, 2020. Photo by Reuters

A Chinese tourist was charged in court on Tuesday for stealing cash and a credit card worth over US$200 during a Scoot flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore.

Zhang Kun, 51, pleaded not guilty and demanded proof of the alleged offense, The Straits Times reported.

He is scheduled to attend a pre-trial conference on March 27. If convicted, he faces up to three years in jail, a fine, or both.

According to police, Zhang stole a credit card, S$200 (US$150), and RM100 (US$22) from a wallet inside a haversack.

Another passenger witnessed him hiding some of the stolen items in his jacket before returning the bag to the overhead compartment, Channel News Asia reported.

The witness then informed the bag's owner, who later confirmed that the items were missing.

Upon landing at Changi Airport, the bag's owner, guided by the witness's description, searched for Zhang while contacting the police.

Zhang was eventually located in the transit area, where police officers arrested him on suspicion of theft.

He stated that it was his first time visiting Singapore and that he would not be hiring a lawyer.