Chinese national gets 12 months for theft on flight

A CHINESE national who stole S$300 (RM778) from a passenger on board a SilkAir flight was jailed for 12 months.

Zhang Chunsheng, 49, admitted to stealing a black backpack containing a wallet with S$300 from Low Siow Ling, 49, while on board the aircraft that was flying from Shenzhen, China, to Singapore on March 7 this year.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Yang Ziliang said the native from Jiangsu province was seated beside Low when he removed the victim’s backpack from the overhead compartment and proceeded to walk to the toilet at about 7.50pm.

Two passengers saw this and informed the victim to check his belongings.

He found that his backpack was indeed missing.

A few minutes later, Zhang returned from the toilet with the backpack and when approached, claimed that he had taken the wrong bag.

The backpack was returned to the victim, who found S$300 missing from his wallet.

Yang said the victim did not confront Zhang about the missing cash, but informed the cabin crew about the incident.

Zhang was arrested at Changi Airport. The three S$100 notes were found in Zhang’s possession.

He initially said the money was his and that he had changed those notes in Shenzhen.

He later admitted to the police that he had taken the money out of greed.

He could have been jailed for up to three years and fined. — The Straits Times/ Asia News Net-work