28-7-2023 (SINGAPORE) Two individuals have been arrested and brought back to Singapore by the police after they allegedly stole S$134,000 (US$100,800) from a money changer on Serangoon Road. The incident occurred on December 2, 2022. The Singapore Police Force stated in a press release on July 27 that the two men, aged 36 and 70, approached the money changer under the pretense of exchanging Singapore dollars for euros and US dollars.
One of the men placed €25,000 and US$70,000 into a bag with a number lock attached. He then left the bag at the money changer’s and claimed he was going to withdraw Singapore dollars for the currency exchange. When he returned, the men requested that the money changer verify the amounts of €25,000 and US$70,000.
While this was taking place, it is believed that the men replaced the genuine notes with counterfeit notes. They then left with the bag containing the genuine notes, stating that they would return to complete the transaction. However, the money changer opened the bag after a few hours when the men failed to return and found that only one €200 note, one €500 note, and one US$100 note were genuine. The other notes were purportedly counterfeit notes.
Through ground enquiries, police camera images and CCTV footage, the police were able to identify the two men on the same day of the reported theft. However, they had already left Singapore by then.
The Royal Malaysian Police’s assistance was sought, and the two men were arrested at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on July 27 and handed over to the Singapore Police Force a day later.
Both men will be charged in court on July 29 with abetment to commit theft in dwelling, which carries a jail term of up to seven years and a fine. The police have urged all money exchangers to be vigilant against similar modus operandi and guard against theft involving sleight of hand.
