Another Changi Security hoohah

Elderly woman’s airport ordeal

Letter from PHANG KOK CHIEW


Drawn-out security check at Budget Terminal puzzling
Monday • May 7, 2007



Returning from a short trip to Thailand on April 30, my wife's checked-in luggage was detained at the Budget Terminal arrival hall, as it contained a retractable tai chi exercise sword and a "butterfly" fruit knife.

My wife bought the sword in Singapore, where it is readily available, for her exercise during our overseas vacation. The fruit knife was purchased in Thailand. Both items had been cleared by departure and arrival baggage scanning at Changi Airport on every trip we had made over the past months.

We were therefore shocked when the Customs officers reminded us that the two items were classified as dangerous weapons prohibited in Singapore and that the case would be investigated by the police.

We explained their history and the purpose, and pointed out their clearance at Changi Airport in all our previous travels. We further requested the customs officers to confiscate them if they indeed were forbidden in Singapore, and take our or my wife's particulars and statements for reference or further investigation should it become necessary.

But our explanation and request were ignored and my wife was taken to an adjacent room where she was asked by three customs officers to provide details about herself, our trip and the two items. The same line of questioning continued, first by an officer in plain clothes shortly after, followed by two police personnel about 15 minutes later. The police officers also asked my wife to sign a statement/report they had prepared.

This was not the end of our ordeal. Next came two other officers, both in plain clothes, one carrying a camera. The same questioning exercise continued. Finally, my wife was told that the fruit knife would be confiscated and the tai chi exercise sword might or might not be returned to her pending further clarification with the police headquarters. I was not allowed in the room to assist my wife during the entire investigation.

We fully appreciate and understand the need for tight security control at checkpoints, and we accept what happened as an unfortunate part of an otherwise enjoyable holiday. But having eight officers confronting an elderly lady of 64 in succession over a fruit knife and an exercise tool for more than an hour after midnight seems to me an overkill and an inefficient use of resources. That the items in question had been cleared by the baggage scanning in all our previous trips through Changi Airport further puzzled us.

Does this indicate lapses and inconsistency in security procedures? I believe this and similar issues affect a significant segment of the air-travelling public, especially the new travellers. An explanation and clarification from relevant authorities will therefore be helpful and necessary.

After the last bomb thing, I thought we would have re-looked into our Changi Security SOPs. Guess not. More to come if they don't buck up.

Funny about the inconsistency. Why can go through cannot come out?Its gonna make Singaporeans more paranoid about going overseas.