Two Indian women sentenced for separate shop thefts at Changi Airport
Two Indian women transiting through Changi Airport were sentenced for shop thefts earlier this month. One was fined S$700 for stealing a haversack, while the other received eight days’ jail for stealing luxury items worth over S$500.
- Two Indian women were sentenced for shop thefts at Changi Airport while transiting to Bali on 2 June.
- One stole a haversack worth S$80 and was fined S$700, while the other stole over S$500 in items and was jailed eight days.
- Authorities emphasised the importance of vigilance by airport staff in preventing losses.
Two Indian travellers have been sentenced in Singapore after committing separate thefts at Changi Airport on 2 June 2025 while in transit to Bali.
Both flew in from Kolkata and were apprehended within hours of arrival after stealing from retail stores in Terminals 2 and 3.
First case: theft of haversack at Terminal 2
The first offender, 30-year-old Garg Prasha, was caught after taking a black haversack valued at over S$80 from a Charles & Keith store at Terminal 2 at about 7am.
She placed the bag in her luggage trolley and exited without paying. A store employee noticed the theft and promptly reported it to the police.
Authorities located Garg shortly after with the bag intact. On 16 June, she was fined S$700 after pleading guilty to one count of theft.
Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan noted that Garg had committed the offence less than an hour after arriving in Singapore.
“The only saving grace was that the bag was recovered, but she has been effectively caught red-handed here,” he said.
Second case: luxury items stolen at Terminals 2 and 3
The second offender, 29-year-old Goenka Simran, was in transit at Terminal 3 when she stole a yellow Furla purse worth more than S$300 around 1.40pm.
She also admitted to stealing a perfume bottle valued at over S$200 from a cosmetics shop at Terminal 2 earlier the same day.
The total value of items taken exceeded S$500.
On 16 June, she was sentenced to eight days’ jail after pleading guilty to one count of theft in dwelling, with another charge considered during sentencing.
Judge’s remarks and legal consequences
Judge Tan observed that Goenka had only been scheduled to remain in Singapore for 10 hours.
“She decided to help herself to goods worth more than S$500 in total during that time,” he remarked.
“She would have gotten away if not for the quick actions of the authorities and staff, and once she gets away, it would be impossible to recover the items.”
The prosecution confirmed that while Garg and Goenka knew each other, they did not commit the thefts as part of a syndicate.
Under Singapore law, theft carries a maximum sentence of three years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both. Theft in dwelling carries a heavier penalty of up to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine.
