Chinese tourist faces jail time for stealing $23,000 on flight

By Hoang Vu December 19, 2023 | 12:12 am PT

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

A Chinese tourist was charged with three counts of theft on Monday for stealing cash worth US$23,250 from three passengers on a flight from HCMC to Singapore.

If convicted of theft, Zhang Xiuqiang, 52, could face up to three years in jail, a fine, or both per charge, the Independent News Singapore reported.

According to the indictment, Zhang stole from three people while on board Scoot flight TR305 from Ho Chi Minh City to Singapore on Dec. 16.

He stole cash in Singapore dollar, U.S. dollar and Vietnamese dong notes from the passengers' bags, Channel News Asia reported.

Zhang was remanded for investigation and will return to court on Dec. 22.