3 suspects arrested for illegally redeeming face masks from vending machines

Two men and one woman, aged between 38 and 52, were arrested for their suspected involvement in cheating and using unauthorised methods to redeem reusable face masks from vending machines put up by Temasek Foundation.

The police said in a statement that they received separate reports between Nov 30 and Dec 5 from the victims who were unable to collect their government-issued reusable face masks from vending machines located at various collection points in Singapore.

The police added that a check conducted against the system’s records indicated that the face masks had already been redeemed.

In the first case, a 38-year-old man was arrested on Monday (Dec 14) for his suspected involvement in a case of cheating by purportedly using illegally-obtained personal information to redeem over 40 reusable face masks from a vending machine located along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10.

In a separate case, a 41-year-old woman was arrested on Tuesday (Dec 15) for her suspected involvement in a case of cheating for unauthorised redemption of over 60 reusable face masks from a vending machine located at Clementi Community Centre.

A 52-year-old man was also arrested on Tuesday (Dec 15) for his suspected involvement in a case of cheating by purportedly using illegally-obtained personal information to redeem over 60 reusable face masks from a vending machine located along Bedok Reservoir Road.

"Preliminary investigations revealed that these cases are believed to be unrelated," said the police.

"Footages from police cameras and CCTV cameras fixed in the vending machines have aided us in the identification of these suspects."

Police investigations are ongoing.

The offence of cheating carries an imprisonment term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to a fine.

The offence of retaining illegally obtained personal information carries an imprisonment term of up to three years, or a fine of up to $10,000, or both.