Two Indian students, Brahmbhatt Komal Chetankumar and Christian Arpita Arvindbhai, both aged 27, have been sentenced to jail in Singapore for shoplifting. They were part of a group that conspired to steal apparel worth over SG$1,700 from a Uniqlo store in Orchard Central. The students removed price tags containing radio-frequency identification (RFID) from the clothes to evade the store’s security system. Komal and Arpita pleaded guilty to the offences and were sentenced to 40 and 45 days in jail, respectively.
The Shoplifting Operation and Its Aftermath
The group, including Komal and Arpita, stole a total of 64 pieces of apparel worth SG$1,788. Their plan involved removing RFID tags and stuffing the items into tote bags at the self-checkout area, pretending to have paid for them. However, their conspiracy was uncovered when a second attempt by some group members to steal SG$2,271 worth of clothes from the same store was thwarted by a vigilant store security officer, leading to their arrest. CCTV footage played a crucial role in identifying the culprits.
Sentences and Legal Proceedings
Apart from Komal and Arpita, four other members of the group – Shihora Ridham Mukeshbhai, Hun Smit Ashokbhai, Kuvadiya Milan Ghansyambhai, and Chauhan Ruchi Sanjaykumar – were also sentenced to jail terms ranging from 40 to 65 days. District Judge Eugene Teo, who presided over the case, described their acts as “disgraceful.” Three other Indian nationals involved in the conspiracy had already left Singapore by the time of the arrests.
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