Everything About the Woman Who Took More Than 50 NRIC Numbers To Collect Free Masks

People steal things all the time.

For the most part, this includes money, luxury items, and one’s heart (the last one doesn’t feel so bad).

But in the time of corona, we’re facing a very new type of theft, one that defies logic, rationality, and several other things I can’t think of.

Yes, I’m talking about mask theft, of course.

Face masks have become one of humanity’s most prized possessions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After all, we have to use them every day until the pandemic ends, which will likely be in 2062.

As a result, some people have taken to stealing face masks just to make some extra cash.

Everything About the Woman Who Took More Than 50 NRIC Numbers To Collect Free Masks

A Malaysian woman was charged on Thursday (15 Apr), after she allegedly obtained the personal information of more than 50 people and used it to redeem face masks.

According to The Straits Times, Koh Pek Keang got the personal data of 54 people at Clementi Community Centre (CC) on 30 Nov last year.

This included their identification numbers, birth dates, and addresses.

How she accessed this information, which she stored in her computer, was not revealed to the public.

She then used the information and allegedly redeemed 54 packs of masks from a Temasek Foundation dispensing machine at the CC.

With each pack valued at S$12, the total value of the masks is S$648.

The 42-year-old now faces a charge of illegally obtaining personal information and another of cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property.

If convicted of the first charge, she faces up to three years in jail, a fine of up to S$10,000, or both.

If convicted on the cheating charge, she could be jailed for up to 10 years and fined.

Koh is currently out on a bail of S$10,000 and is expected to return to court on 6 May.

Man Illegally Redeemed More Than 200 Masks Last Year

There have been numerous cases of people redeeming free face masks through illegal means, but none of them can hold a candle to the ex-recruiter who obtained more than 200 masks last May. 

The man allegedly obtained the data from his previous job as a manpower recruiter at a recruitment firm.

His offences came to light when some residents reported that they were not able to collect their masks as they had already been redeemed.

Officers from Bedok Police Division eventually managed to establish his identity with the help of police cameras.

When the police nabbed the suspect, they found 207 face masks in his possession.