Chinese tourist imprisoned in Singapore for on-flight theft

Zhang Xiuqiang, 52, pled guilty to charges of theft at his trial in Singapore on Friday, but he also claimed his sentence was a "bit harsh," Channel News Asia reported.

According to the indictment, the thefts took place on a Scoot flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Singapore on Dec. 16 last year.

When the plane landed in Changi Airport, the crew received complaints from passengers who said they had lost money stored in their carry-on bags, The Strait Times reported.

Zhang was accused of going into the passengers’ bags during the flight to steal Singapore dollars, U.S. dollars and Vietnamese dong notes worth a total of US$23,250.

He had allegedly thrown some of the cash on the floor of the aircraft in a bid to get rid of evidence, the court heard.

All cash belonging to the three victims was recovered.

Under Singaporean law, those convicted of theft can be jailed for up to three years, fined, or both.