Beautician from Macau fined $1,000 for entering Changi Airport transit area to make GST claim for Rolex watch
SINGAPORE — A beautician from Macau working in Singapore entered Changi Airport’s transit area with a one-way ticket to Kuala Lumpur – but with no intention to board the flight, a court heard.
Cheong Lai Lei, 42, simply wanted to make a GST refund claim for her boyfriend’s $12,570 Rolex watch.
Unbeknownst to her, foreigners working here are not entitled to GST refunds.
When she wanted to leave the transit area, she lied to an immigration officer, saying she had bought the flight ticket because she had quarrelled with her boyfriend, but reconciled with him and no longer wished to fly off.
At the State Courts on Friday (4 October), Cheong was fined the maximum $1,000 after she pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to comply with directions by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority in a Protected Place.
Another charge of giving false information to a public servant was considered in sentencing.
Bought one-way ticket
Cheong had bought a one-way from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur for the sole purpose of gaining entry to the Departure Transit Hall of Changi Airport Terminal 4, so that she could make a GST refund claim under the electronic Tourist Refunds Scheme, the court heard.
At about 10am on 12 September last year, Cheong checked in for her flight which was scheduled to depart at 11.45am and collected her boarding pass.
She went to an automated kiosk to make the GST refund claim but was unsuccessful.
Cheong then entered the Departure Transit Hall with her passport and boarding pass, but with no intention of travelling out of the country.
She went to a Singapore Customs inspection counter, where she was told that she was not entitled to GST claims as she was working in Singapore.
Lied to immigration officer
Cheong then said she did not want to board her flight and was escorted to an immigration counter. She then lied to an immigration officer that she had initially quarrelled with her boyfriend but they reconciled.
But under further questioning, Cheong admitted to lying.
The maximum punishment she could have faced for her proceeded charge under the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act is a fine of up to $1,000 and up to two years’ jail.
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