2 women charged with pocketing 103 boxes of ART kits from quick test centre, selling them online

SINGAPORE — Two women who allegedly stole dozens of Covid-19 antigen rapid test (ART) kits from a quick test centre in Little India, then sold some of them online, were charged on Friday (April 29).

They are Singaporeans Deng Xiang Ying, 27, and Audrey Sau Qi Ng, 24.

Both face one charge each of dishonest misappropriation of property with common intention, and converting stolen property as benefits from criminal conduct under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act.

In a news release on Thursday, the police said that they had received a report on Oct 1 last year about the rapid test kits, which belonged to the Health Promotion Board, being stolen from the quick test centre. 

Quick test centres were set up the Government during the pandemic to allow people to to pay and do self-tests using the rapid test kits while being supervised by an approved Covid-19 test provider. 

The police added that Deng and Sau, who were deployed there, had allegedly pocketed 103 boxes of these test kits and sold 44 of them online for a profit.

Court documents showed that the duo sold the kits for S$5,363.70 from Sept 29 to Oct 1 last year. They allegedly took the kits — valued at a total of S$14,162.50 — on Sept 19 from the quick test centre set up at Little India Bus Terminal.

Deng will return to court on May 13, while Sau will return to court on May 27.

Those convicted of dishonestly misappropriating property can be jailed for up to two years or fined, or punished with both.

Those convicted of converting stolen property as benefits from criminal conduct can be jailed for up to 10 years or fined up to S$500,000, or both.

In its news release, the police stressed that it takes “a serious view against any person involved in fraudulent or dishonest conduct”.

Offenders will be dealt with severely in accordance with the law, they added.