“Bro, I can’t redeem my free mask sia.”
“Maybe you key in your NRIC number wrongly?”
“No lah, I use scan one leh. Maybe someone stole my identity for free mask leh?”
“Cannot be la. So cheapskate meh? Plus, they look like man’s underwear leh who want so many pairs?”
Little did we know, bro is right. We have another case of Singaporeans attempting to selfishly collect more masks for themselves than what is regulated.
When will you learn that your actions have consequences!?
Man Attempting to Collect Masks 61 Times from the Vending Machines
A 38-year-old man has been arrested on Sunday (14 Mar) after attempting to collect masks 61 times from the vending machines using illegally obtained personal information.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) noted that the man had successfully collected 11 masks from vending machines at Bukit Panjang Plaza and along Bishan Street 22.
According to The Straits Times, the police were alerted to the incident after a victim had been unable to collect their mask from a vending machine at Pasir Ris East Community Centre. The victim then lodged a police report at 11:40am on Saturday (13 Mar).
Similarly, the Temasek Foundation also filed a police report after receiving multiple complaints that people were unable to collect their masks in Bukit Panjang and Bishan.
Man Caught Thanks to CCTV
The police managed to nab the man by using the footage from police cameras and closed-circuit television cameras fixed in the vending machines.
For illegally obtaining personal information, he could be jailed up to 3 years or fined up to S$10,000 or both. For cheating, he could be jailed up to 10 years and fined.
As reported by CNA, SPF has also received similar reports from other estates and are “intensifying” their efforts to catch the cheaters.
They advised that residents should call the police immediately if they spot any suspicious character loitering around the mask ending machines.
The CEO of Temasek Holdings, Ho Ching, had also made a Facebook post on Sunday to warn about the incident. She noted that the Temasek Foundation #StayMasked Operations team “work very closely with the Singapore Police Force to address issues of theft.”
Using NRIC to exchange for Masks
She thanked the SPF for their efforts in catching such perpetrators and also explained the rationale behind using NRIC numbers for mask collections.
Madam Ho acknowledged that there were “pros and cons” in doing so but ultimately chose to continue using ID numbers because of the convenience.
“This enabled neighbours, friends, families and employers to help collect from others.”
Read her full post here:
Members of the public who face difficulties in redeeming their masks from the machines are advised to contact the Temasek Foundation at 1800-738-2000 from 9:00am to 9:00pm daily, or via email at [email protected].
Sadly, this isn’t the first case of illegal mask collection. Just last week, two women were arrested for doing so the same thing. Sigh.
Featured Image: Shutterstock.com / Damian Lugowski
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