A 35-year-old Australian woman has been arrested and charged for allegedly stealing from a duty-free store in Changi Airport’s transit area, more than two years after the incident occurred.
On 23 March 2023, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) was alerted to a suspected case of shop theft after a bottle of perfume valued at $248 went missing from The Shilla Duty-Free Perfume and Cosmetics Shop located in the transit area of Changi Airport Terminal 1.
Officers from the Airport Police Division conducted ground enquiries and used CCTV footage to identify the Australian woman as the suspect.
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However, by the time they established her identity, she had already left Singapore on a flight after allegedly committing the crime.
The woman, identified as Raj Varsha by The Straits Times, returned to Singapore on 31 March 2025.
Upon her arrival, the police arrested her for her suspected involvement in the case.
Criminal Charges and Legal Consequences
Varsha was charged in court on 3 April 2025 with theft in a dwelling under Section 380 of the Penal Code 1871.
She is expected to plead guilty to the crime on 16 April.
If convicted, she faces severe penalties, including imprisonment for up to seven years and a fine.
The SPF stated that it takes shop theft cases seriously, with offenders to be “dealt with firmly in accordance with the law”.
The police emphasised that suspects will be held accountable even if they manage to evade immediate detection.
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The police also noted they will continue working closely with stakeholders and the community to prevent and deter shop theft cases in the future.
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