SINGAPORE – Four airport staff members were commended by the Singapore Police Force for their public-spiritedness, after their actions led to the arrest of a man stayed in Changi Airport for 18 days by forging boarding passes.
For almost three weeks – 18 days from Aug 21 until Sept 7 – Malaysian Raejali Buntut remained in transit by using 31 forged mobile boarding passes to enter several lounges in the three terminals.
Raejali was arrested after staff from air service provider Dnata alerted the police. He was sentenced to two weeks’ jail last Friday.
In a Facebook post on Sept 21, the Singapore Police Force noted that Raejali was nabbed thanks to the vigilance of four staff members. A commendation ceremony was held at the Airport Police Division on Tuesday (Sept 20), said the police in the post.
According to The Straits Times, a staff at the Dnata Lounge at Terminal 1 called police when she suspected Raejali’s misdeeds. He had entered that very lounge as recently as three days earlier, on Sept 3. He had also gone there on Sept 1 and on Aug 29 and Aug 24.
Commander Airport Police Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police (AC) Cheong Chee Ming, commended the staff for assisting in the arrest.
He said, “This case illustrates the close partnership between the Police and the airport community in fighting crime. While the Police conduct regular patrols and security checks, members of the public also play an important role in keeping our airport safe and secure. We thank these staff for being vigilant and assisting the Police to arrest the man.”
candicec@sph.com.sg
