No diplomatic intervention for Italian swimmers who shoplifted at Changi Airport: Shanmugam

There was no diplomatic intervention for two Italian swimmers who shoplifted at Changi Airport in August to influence the legal outcome of the case.

- Nadine Chua

Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security, said this on Sept 24 in a written parliamentary reply.

The police and Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) had assessed that a 12-month conditional warning was appropriate for Chiara Tarantino, 22, and Benedetta Pilato, 20, after they were caught by surveillance cameras taking perfumes from a store without paying.

They were also banned from reentering Singapore.

Mr Shanmugam was responding to a question from WP MP Gerald Giam (Aljunied GRC) on why the two swimmers were issued only a warning and an entry ban for the shoplifting offence here.

Tarantino and Pilato had participated in the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore from July 11 to Aug 3. They then went on a holiday in Bali with two other teammates before a scheduled return to Italy via a flight from Singapore when the offence took place.

On Sept 24, Mr Shanmugam said the two swimmers were treated in accordance with a framework for treating offenders, based on types of offences committed.