I’ll never understand those who carry large amounts of cash on airplanes or those who think they can get away with stealing it. We’ll explore issues in the case of $80,000 stolen onboard a Singapore Airlines flight…and how Singaporean police caught the culprit.
Man Apprehended After Stealing Cash On Singapore Airlines
The incident occurred on Singapore Airlines flight SQ899, traveling from Hong Kong (HKG) to Singapore (SIN). A passenger was traveling with about 80,000USD in cash and placed it in the overhead bin. After landing in Singapore and disembarking, he found his money was gone.
He filed a police report, but did not recall any suspicious person accessing the overhead bin. Police did a great job of carefully looking over the passenger manifest then checking for any recent questionable bank transfers.
The culprit was located: 53-year-old Chinese national Peng Hui.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had purportedly made four remittance transactions amounting to $37,897.70, which were believed to be part of the stolen cash, at People’s Park Complex.”
Police stopped the transactions and Hui was arrested. The remaining cash was found in his possession. He has pleaded not guilty, but faces up to three years in jail and/or heavy fines if convicted.
“I don’t admit guilt.”
Right…
I’m quite impressed by how well the police tracked the money down and captured the culprit. But I also do not understand why anyone needs to transport such large amounts of cash. For what purpose? Each time you do, you risk losing it…that would be highly stressful (and of course, there are huge seizure concerns in some places in the USA).
So I guess the moral of the story is that crime doesn’t pay but also that you should think twice about carrying cash on airplanes.
image of cash: Singapore Police / Hat Tip: SINJim
Makes you wonder the reason for the cash owner not trusting crypto currency.
Did the in-flight cash thief also get charged for a failure to declare substantial cash import?
If the big cash traveler was going to make an imminent purchase when banks are closed or over a period when banks are closed or transfers are subject to delays for whatever reason, cash settlement can be the fastest way to make a purchase or series of purchases or settle or secure a contract.
Not everyone feels as comfortable with cryptocurrency as with cash.
some people are just careless.
It would not leave my body.
That’s the right answer, I stress over leaving my work laptop unattended in the lounge if I have to go to the toilet for five minutes- leaving a serious amount of money in a bag etc wouldn’t even cross my mind.
+1 Agreed, my money doesn’t leave my body. And who puts any amount of money in the overhead bin?? I have a friend that had money stolen out of her purse she stowed under the seat in front of her. Too many crimes of opportunity on a plane.
Sometimes you can’t really avoid carrying cash with you, I have had to do it twenty years ago when my house purchase was about to fall through (international bank transfers did take a bit longer back then), and more recently, with smaller but still substantial amounts, when visiting countries like Venezuela and Argentina where the official exchange rate was much lower than what I could get on the street.
As much as $80,000 though? Seems extremely dangerous to carry so much cash.
The house purchase money was about that much in inflation adjusted terms. I really didn’t want to do it, but the transaction had already suffered multiple delays and the alternative would mean seriously risking losing the purchase. I chose to fly to the closest airport with a connection as opposed to going direct and then having to deal with trains etc. My first flight was late and I ended up having to spend the weekend at an airport hotel in Berlin. Needless to say, I neither left the room not let anyone clean it during my stay!
Many countries prevent people from moving large amount of money (especially USD) out of the country, you often need a “legitimate” reason, e.g. tuition for your children studying in the West.
I didn’t think Hong Kong has any control, but it could be cash carried overland from China. If you’re trying to move cash away from the Chinese govt, you probably don’t want to create a paper trail in HKG, so suitcase of cash to Singapore it is.
“Any person about to leave Hong Kong must upon the requirement of a Customs officer disclose whether he/she is in possession of a large quantity of CBNIs (i.e. CBNIs of a total value of more than HKD120,000). If so, he/she must make a written declaration.”
That is the Hong Kong rule that applies to exporting cash from HKG to SIN.
That’s a given you have to declare large amount of cash at every custom border. However some countries you cannot bring large amount of cash, or even bank transfer, even if you can prove that it’s legitimate.
It’s impossible to get through customs in most countries with that large amount of cash? I assume he was traveling within his own country. What guts &/or inspiration he’s got. Three years imprisonment? Seems rather lame.
How is it impossible? You normally just need to declare it.
bravo Singapore. I being an Indonesian always admire Singapore government. They are not/less less corrupt & fast to action to criminal cases. If such thing happened here, even the culprit were caught, most possibly the police or law enforcer would not be transparent; may divide the money among themselves
I would question the wisdom of leaving that much cash in the overhead. Why not under the seat in front of you? Also, how does anyone know you’re carrying that much cash on you? Did the guy go from overhead to overhead checking everything? Wouldn’t that be suspicious behavior?
Who would put that $$$$$ in the Overhead bin??? nuts