The Police have arrested two men, aged 45 and 54, for their suspected involvement in a case of theft in dwelling within eight hours of the report.
On 21 April 2023, the Police received a report on a case of theft at a money changer along Coleman Street, involving losses purportedly amounting to US$75,000. Preliminary investigations revealed that between 18 April 2023 and 21 April 2023, the two men had purportedly made bona fide exchanges of Singapore Dollars (SGD) for United States Dollars (USD) on four occasions. After gaining familiarity with the money changer, the two men asked the money changer to prepare US$75,000 in exchange for SGD on 20 April 2023.
On 21 April 2023 at around 4.30pm, the two men arrived at the money changer and asked to be handed over the US$75,000 on pretext of verifying the amount. After verifying the bundles of cash in denomination of US$100 amounting to US$75,000, the 54-year-old man packed the bundles into plastic bags which was then placed into a large briefcase they had brought along. When the briefcase could not fit through the gap at the counter to be returned to the money changer, the two men then allegedly pretended to remove the plastic bags containing the bundles from the briefcase to place them into a smaller black leather bag, which could fit through the gap. The two men then claimed they would return with their passports and the SGD and left the black leather bag at the money changer.
The two men did not return after one hour. Feeling suspicious, the money changer opened the black leather bag and found three plastic bags containing a bundle each consisting of US$1 and US$100 notes, as well as fake Euro notes. The money changer then realised that the two men had allegedly swapped the US$75,000 with a purportedly pre-packed mixture of USD and fake Euro notes.
Through extensive ground enquiries and with the aid of images from the Police cameras and CCTV footages, officers from the Central Police Division, Police Operations Command Centre, and Police Intelligence Department established the identities of the two men, who were foreign nationals. Further checks revealed that the two men were on onboard a aircraft due to take off from Changi Airport bound for Frankfurt, Germany. Officers from the Airport Police Division responded swiftly and ordered a recall of the aircraft. Both men were immediately placed under arrest after being escorted from the aircraft.
US$74,600 in US$100 denominations were recovered from the two men and seized as case exhibits. Their electronic devices and clothes worn during the alleged offence were also seized. Police investigations are ongoing.
The two men will be charged in court on 23 April 2023 for theft in dwelling with common intention under Section 380 read with Section 34 of the Penal Code 1871. The offence of theft in dwelling carries an imprisonment term of up to seven years and a fine.
The Police would like to alert all money exchangers to be vigilant against similar modus operandi and guard against such theft involving sleight of hand.
Photo of the arrest ▼
Attire worn by the men during the commission of the offence ▼
Photos of seized exhibits ▼
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
22 April 2023 @ 9:25 PM