Chinese national jailed for retrieving nearly S$500,000 in loot stolen by burglars in Singapore

SINGAPORE: A Chinese national was sentenced to seven months’ jail on 16 December for recovering stolen cash and valuables worth nearly S$500,000 on behalf of a burglary syndicate. Wu Jinxing, 28, a food deliveryman from Shenzhen, pleaded guilty to handling the benefits of criminal conduct. The court heard that Wu, who earned around 200 yuan daily as a deliveryman in China, was offered 30,000 yuan (S$5,600) to fly to Singapore and retrieve stolen items. He arrived in Singapore on 27 July and was instructed to recover an orange Hermes Birkin bag worth approximately S$45,000 from a forested area near Buona Vista MRT station. Wu’s offence was linked to two other burglars, Wu Jianxin, 30, and Huang Ziqian, 35, both Chinese nationals who remain at large. According to court documents, the pair stole luxury items and cash from homes across Singapore, specifically targeting high-value goods.

Burglary syndicate operations

In August, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) revealed to local media a rise in housebreaking incidents involving foreign syndicates, notably Chinese nationals. These suspects were reportedly exploiting Singapore's visa-free entry arrangements to commit crimes before fleeing quickly to evade detection. The SPF has since arrested three individuals, including Wu Jinxing, and is working with Chinese authorities to locate 14 more suspects. Wu was arrested on 27 July, the same day he arrived in Singapore. He was apprehended in a forested area near the Rail Corridor and later charged on 29 July for dishonestly retaining stolen property worth over S$180,000. Two other Chinese nationals, Long Zhihua, 38, and Luo Changchang, 43, were also charged on 28 June for related housebreaking offences.

Loot concealed in multiple locations

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Janessa Phua revealed in court that the burglars had broken into several homes in July, stealing items including 12 Hermes bags, jewellery, cash in various currencies, and three luxury watches valued at up to S$165,000 each. After committing the thefts, the burglars concealed the stolen loot in various locations, including the Rail Corridor and behind properties near Bukit Sedap Road, close to Holland Road. Wu Jinxing, who had known Wu Jianxin for 12 years, was contacted at 2.30 am on 27 July and instructed to fly to Singapore immediately on a one-day mission to retrieve the stolen goods. Wu Jianxin promised to cover Wu’s travel expenses and pay the agreed reward upon completing the task.

Retrieving the stolen goods

Arriving around noon, Wu travelled to Buona Vista MRT station as instructed. Following directions from Wu Jianxin via a video call, he walked along the Rail Corridor and climbed a vegetation-covered slope to locate a spot beneath a tree. Wu found the orange Birkin bag hidden under pipes and leaves and took it. Later, Wu checked into a Geylang hotel at 7 pm, where he emptied the bag’s contents onto a bed while on another video call with Wu Jianxin. The loot included cash and valuables. Unbeknownst to Wu, the police had already been alerted to the case and were investigating the stolen items. Officers recovered valuables at Bukit Sedap Road and staked out the area. Still acting under instructions, Wu went to Bukit Sedap Road to retrieve more stolen goods later that night. He was arrested by officers at 9.40 pm and taken to his hotel room, where the orange Birkin bag and its contents were recovered.

Court proceedings and sentencing

During the hearing, DPP Phua urged the court to sentence Wu to eight to nine months’ jail, citing the transnational and syndicate-linked nature of the crime. She noted that Wu’s actions had facilitated criminal activities. Wu was ultimately sentenced to seven months in jail. He could have faced up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to S$500,000 for handling the benefits of criminal conduct. Court documents did not disclose how the authorities learned the location of the remaining stolen items.

Minister Shanmugam in September rejects request for detailed information on visa-free visitor offences: Cites bilateral considerations

Earlier on 10 September 2024, Minister for Home Affairs and Law, Mr K Shanmugam, refused to provide detailed information requested by Workers’ Party Member of Parliament (MP) for Sengkang GRC, Ms He Ting Ru, regarding visa-free visitors involved in criminal offences in Singapore. Ms He requested statistics on visa-free visitors arrested or identified for criminal activities from 2021 to June 2024, including offence breakdowns and origins, and asked about enhanced screening measures and the potential introduction of an electronic travel authorisation system. n his written response, Mr Shanmugam stated that with over 150 countries on the visa-free entry list, it would not be practical or meaningful to publish crime statistics specific to visitors from these nations. He added that doing so could carry bilateral implications and potentially send the wrong message to bona fide visitors from these countries. Mr Shanmugam affirmed that Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) employs a risk-based, multi-layered approach to balance border security with traveller facilitation and assured that the current measures are sufficient. He reiterated that there were no immediate plans to implement an electronic travel authorisation regime, as it would increase inconvenience for visitors.

Sun Xueling informed the House: No rise in arrests of short-term Chinese visitors since visa exemption

This response followed an oral reply delivered earlier that day by Minister of State (MOS) for Home Affairs, Ms Sun Xueling, who addressed a related question posed by Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Mr Leong Mun Wai from the Progress Singapore Party (PSP). Mr Leong raised concerns about a possible crime increase linked to the 30-day visa exemption for Chinese nationals, questioning its connection to foreign syndicate burglaries and whether automated lanes at Changi Airport heightened the risk of non-bona fide travellers entering Singapore. Ms Sun refuted Mr Leong’s concerns, stating there had been no increase in arrests among short-term visitors from China since the visa exemption, with arrest rates actually decreasing compared to the previous year. She acknowledged some foreign involvement in crimes but emphasised that the visa regime alone cannot eliminate all risks, highlighting ICA’s use of biometrics and advanced data analytics for screening. Ms Sun stressed the importance of tourism to Singapore’s economy, noting it generated S$27.2 billion in receipts in 2023 and employed over 71,000 workers, and argued against border closures given regional competition for Chinese visitors. She reassured that the government continually reviews laws to address transnational crimes and remains vigilant in adapting measures to combat evolving criminal trends.