[ad_1]
SINGAPORE: A man was arrested after trying to collect free masks from vending machines 61 times using illegally obtained personal information, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said on Sunday (March 14).
The 38-year-old eventually managed to collect 11 masks from vending machines at Bukit Panjang Plaza and 22 Bishan Street, SPF said.
Police received a report Saturday morning that a victim was unable to pick up his mask from a vending machine at the Pasir Ris East Community Center.
The Temasek Foundation, which installed the vending machines, also submitted a report the same day after receiving several complaints from people who were unable to collect their masks.
Using images from police cameras and closed-circuit television cameras installed in vending machines, police officers established the man’s identity. He was arrested within 24 hours, SPF said.
If convicted of cheating, he faces up to 10 years in jail and a fine. For keeping illegally obtained personal information, you could be jailed for up to three years, fined up to S $ 10,000, or both.
READ: New reusable masks, hand sanitizer that the Temasek Foundation will deliver in March and April.
Two women are also being investigated separately for illegally collecting masks from vending machines, police said Friday.
One of them allegedly collected more than 20 face masks from Pasir Ris vending machines.
SPF said it has received similar reports at other properties and is “stepping up” its efforts to arrest the perpetrators.
“If you see a suspicious person loitering near the reusable mask vending machines, contact the police at 999 immediately,” he added.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Temasek Holdings CEO Ho Ching said a team from the Temasek Foundation works “very closely” with SPF to address theft issues.
He also explained why residents can collect the masks by manually entering their identity card numbers.
“There are pros and cons, and in general, the team decided to continue with the convenience of allowing people to enter their NRIC,” he wrote.
“This allowed neighbors, friends, families and employers to help collect money from others.”
