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3 people arrested for allegedly using illegal means to redeem more than 160 masks from vending machines

SINGAPORE — The police have arrested three people in cheating cases that involve the unauthorised redemption of reusable face masks. The face masks were allegedly stolen from vending machines put up by Temasek Foundation.

Temasek Foundation launched three distribution exercises for Singapore residents to each get one free mask kit at some 1,200 vending machines around the island.

Temasek Foundation launched three distribution exercises for Singapore residents to each get one free mask kit at some 1,200 vending machines around the island.

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SINGAPORE — The police have arrested three people in cheating cases that involve the unauthorised redemption of reusable face masks. The face masks were allegedly stolen from vending machines put up by Temasek Foundation.

The three suspects were two men and a woman aged between 38 and 52 who allegedly took more than 160 masks in total from the machines.

In a media release on Wednesday (Dec 16), the police said that they received separate reports between Nov 30 and Dec 5 from victims who were unable to collect the government-issued reusable face masks from the various collection points across Singapore.

The police said that a check that was conducted against the system’s records indicated that the masks had already been redeemed.

Temasek Foundation, the philanthropic arm of state investment firm Temasek Holdings, launched three distribution exercises for Singapore residents who have a government-issued identity card to each get one free mask kit. The masks were available for collection at some 1,200 vending machines around the island.

The first distribution was in June, followed by one in September and October, and the latest was from Nov 30 to Dec 13.

CASE 1

The police arrested a 38-year-old man on Dec 14 for his alleged involvement in a case of cheating by using illegally obtained personal information to redeem more than 40 reusable masks from a vending machine located along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10.

CASE 2

The police arrested a 41-year-old woman on Dec 15 for her alleged involvement in a case of cheating for unauthorised redemption of more than 60 reusable masks from a vending machine located at Clementi Community Centre.

CASE 3

The police arrested a 52-year-old man on Dec 15 for his alleged involvement in a case of cheating by using illegally obtained personal information to redeem more than 60 reusable masks from a vending machine located along Bedok Reservoir Road.

From preliminary investigations, the police believe that the three cases are not related.

Footages from police cameras and closed-circuit television cameras fixed in the vending machines helped to identify the three suspects.

Investigations are ongoing.

If convicted of cheating, the suspects may be jailed up to 10 years and be fined.

If found guilty of retaining illegally obtained personal information, they may be jailed up to three years or fined up to S$10,000, or both.

Related topics

face mask Temasek Foundation police cheating

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