SINGAPORE: A man who stole the equivalent of about S$ 120, 000 ( US$ 88, 700 ) from a jeweller on a Singapore Airlines flight was sentenced to two- and- a- half years ‘ jail on Friday ( Jun 21 ).
Peng Hui, a 54- year- ancient China nationwide, had first told the court when he was charged that he did not admit guilt, but ultimately pleaded innocent to four charges.
These are for fraud, including attempting to submit some of the stolen funds to China by bringing income over S$ 20, 000 into Singapore without declaring it, converting some of the stolen funds into game chips, and attempting to transact some of it with China.
Another four expenses were considered in punishment.
THE Robbery
According to the jury, Peng was traveling on SQ899, which left Hong Kong for Singapore on March 5.
Another passenger was also on the aircraft: a Taiwanese jeweler who had traveled to trade fairs in Bangkok and Hong Kong and was returning home.
The prey had more than 1, 000 records of different faiths in his suitcase, including US$ 131, 000 in hundred- money bills and HKD$ 122, 000 in five hundred- money bills.
The goldsmith left his case in the overhead compartment, somewhat positioned behind his chair, during the trip.
The bag’s room with the money was never zipped up, and the jeweler occasionally dozed off or went to the restroom.
Peng had the idea to take from the target, taking advantage of the fact that he was carrying a significant sum of money.
While the plane was in journey, Peng stealthily removed US$ 80, 000 and another HKD$ 70, 000 from the victim’s handbag.
When the survivor arrived, he passed through the emigration convoy and declared the amount of money he was carrying.
Nevertheless, he quickly reported the case when he realized a sizable amount of cash was missing about three hours after takeoff.
WHAT PENG DID
Peng even alighted at Changi Airport. He had on him money of several churches, including the stolen volumes, totalling S$ 124, 473.
He realized that the hotel’s owner would immediately look for the money as soon as he checked in and counted the money.
He made the decision to convert the dollar to Singapore dollars because he was aware from prior experience that casinos may convert foreign currencies into blackjack chips.
Peng gambled some of the$ 30, 000 that he had purchased at the casino in Marina Bay Sands.
He eventually cashed out about S$ 42, 400 worth of chips.
Peng also made a trip to a People’s Park Complex payment station where he placed two orders to send money to his family in China for a total of around S$ 19, 900.  ,
Due to his lack of a work permit, the company refused to accept more requests from him, but he went to another store and attempted to remit about S$ 9,500 to his brother in China.
However, the policeman prevented them from going through with the payments.
After extensive police investigations that involved trawling through security camera footage and an invasion activity, Peng was arrested the early hours of the following day.
They recovered about S$ 37, 900 from the payment firms that Peng had attempted to line to China, S$ 66, 761 in money from him and HKD$ 69, 000.
Another smaller amounts of Peng were also recovered. He was charged and remanded.
SENTENCING
Deputy Public Prosecutor Tung Shou Pin requested 32 to 37 months in prison for Peng on Friday, claiming he was a stranger who had targeted a Singaporean on a Taiwanese plane.
He said for foreigners are” a plague” as they affect Singapore’s status as a offense- completely country.
It’s challenging to find out about such crimes on airplanes because passengers frequently ca n’t look over their belongings and learn about the theft sooner.
According to Mr. Tung, the number that Peng stole makes it one of the worst cases of flight fraud.
In prevention, Peng said via a Mandarin speaker that he would like to suggest guilty to the jeweller.
” I have caused him economic decline, even though it’s not much”, he said. But it did change him intellectually, too.
He likewise pleaded for mercy, saying he had” caused harm to the safety status of Singapore”.
He said he was over 50 years old, had insulin and only one liver.
I worry that I wo n’t be able to endure it if I spend too much time in jail. And finally, my family is over 80 years old. I am the only baby. I want to look after her, but I would have to go to prison. I want to take her on her final quest, but I hope your honor will lessen the sentence and let me know when I’m wrong,” he said.
The sufferer did not suffer “much loss,” according to Deputy Principal District Judge Ong Chin Rhu, as a result of the diligent work of the prosecutors who stopped Peng’s plot to dissipate his legal wealth.
The judge praised the fact that Mr. Peng acknowledged that the sufferer may have experienced a certain degree of mental stress as a result of discovering the theft of his funds.
She suggested that Peng should inform the prison regulators about his health requirements.