The Police have arrested two men and one woman, aged between 38 and 52, for their suspected involvement in a case of cheating for unauthorised redemption of reusable face masks from vending machine put up by Temasek Foundation.
The Police received separate reports between 30 November 2020 and 5 December 2020 from the victims who were unable to collect their Government-issued reusable face masks from vending machines located at various collection points in Singapore. A check conducted against the system’s records indicated that the face masks had already been redeemed.
The cases are as follows:
- A 38-year-old man was arrested on 14 December 2020 for his suspected involvement in a case of cheating by purportedly using illegally obtained personal information to redeem over 40 reusable face masks from a vending machine located along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10.
- A 41-year-old woman was arrested on 15 December 2020 for her suspected involvement in a case of cheating for unauthorised redemption of over 60 reusable face masks from a vending machine located at Clementi Community Centre.
- A 52-year-old man was arrested on 15 December 2020 for his suspected involvement in a case of cheating by purportedly using illegally obtained personal information to redeem over 60 reusable face masks from a vending machine located along Bedok Reservoir Road.
Preliminary investigations revealed that these cases are believed to be unrelated. Footages from Police cameras and CCTV cameras fixed in the vending machines have aided the Police in the identification of these suspects. Police investigations are ongoing.
The offence of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code carries an imprisonment term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to a fine. The offence of retaining illegally obtained personal information under Section 416A of the Penal Code carries an imprisonment term of up to three years, or a fine of up to $10,000, or both.
Seized face masks
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
16 December 2020 @ 11:10 PM