Woman arrested after buying air ticket to enter Changi Airport's transit area -- to meet K-pop idol

A 25-year-old woman was arrested on Jan 22 for misusing her boarding pass to enter the transit area of Changi Airport so that she could meet her idol.

Investigations revealed that the woman had allegedly purchased an air ticket in order to obtain a boarding pass, which she used to enter the transit area to meet a South Korean boy band member, said the police on Feb 8.

As the woman had no intention of leaving Singapore, she was arrested for violating the Infrastructure Protection Act 2017, which prohibits the misuse of boarding passes to enter protected places in the airport.

Police investigations are ongoing.

In 2023, the police have arrested 23 individuals for the misuse of boarding passes under the Infrastructure Protection Act 2017 for entering the transit areas for reasons other than to travel out of Singapore.

Noting that there will be concerts featuring international artistes and pop groups to be held in Singapore over the next few months, the police reminded members of the public that the transit areas of Changi Airport are gazetted as Protected Places.

The police said: "Those who make use of boarding pass to enter the transit areas for reasons other than to travel out of Singapore will be detected and arrested."

If convicted, offenders face a fine of up to $20,000 and/or up to two years in jail.