An Australian woman, 35, was arrested for allegedly stealing from a Changi Airport duty-free shop more than two years after the incident occurred.
Singapore Police Force received a report on March 23, 2023, about a suspected theft of a perfume bottle worth $248 from The Shilla Duty-Free Perfume and Cosmetics Shop in Terminal 1’s transit area.
Airport Police Division officers identified the Australian woman as the suspect through CCTV footage and ground inquiries. The suspect, Raj Varsha (as identified by The Straits Times), had already left Singapore when police established her identity.
Varsha returned to Singapore on March 31, 2025, when police arrested her upon arrival.
She was charged in court on April 3, 2025, with theft in a dwelling under Section 380 of the Penal Code 1871. She is expected to plead guilty on April 16.
If convicted, Varsha faces imprisonment for up to seven years and a fine.
The Singapore Police Force stated it takes shop theft cases seriously and will hold suspects accountable even if they evade immediate detection. Police will continue working with stakeholders and the community to prevent shop theft cases.
