[ad_1]
SINGAPORE – Fifty-five people have been arrested so far for stealing Budget 2020 grocery vouchers, the minister said in the official Prime Minister and Second Finance Minister Indranee Rajah in parliament on Monday (November 2).
While about 150,000 sets of vouchers, each worth $ 150, were sent by registered registered mail in October, 229 sets – less than 0.2 percent – were reported stolen, he said in his response to questions. raised by members of Parliament.
“The robberies appear to be opportunistic and the cases are not linked. In some cases, the recipients had left the mailboxes open, ”Indranee said.
He added that the small number of coupons reported as stolen have been voided and replacement coupons are being issued to eligible recipients.
Budget 2020 grocery vouchers are intended to help less affluent Singaporeans with their household expenses. All Singaporeans age 21 and over in 2020 living in one or two bedroom apartments and owning no more than one property are eligible to receive them.
Regarding the choice of the mode of delivery of the vouchers, Indranee said that a balance must be struck between public health limitations amid the COVID-19 pandemic, convenience for recipients and security.
“Some of the recipients may not have a smartphone, don’t have a mobile data plan, or are not digitally ready. If digital coupons were used, it would have taken more time and effort to provide the proper digital interfaces first, ”he noted. “That being said, as digital literacy improves among older Singaporeans, we may be able to consider digital coupons for this group in the future.”
While self-collection in clubs or community centers was considered, he said this would have been inconvenient for older people, especially those with mobility issues, and possibly cause overcrowding at collection points.
He also explained that as the Singapore Post adopted contactless delivery measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic, certified mail was redirected to people’s mailboxes.
“SingPost will monitor and verify successful deliveries to recipients’ mailboxes with a photo taken by the postman as proof of delivery to mitigate theft and fraud. Each coupon has unique characteristics that allow us to identify the intended recipient and trace any coupon to specific locations and the time of the transaction, ”Indranee said.
Duo charged with theft of Budget 2020 grocery vouchers from the Tampines block
