A 28-year-old Indonesian man has been charged in Singapore for buying KrisFlyer accounts illegally and using the air miles from those accounts to make purchases.
Rizaldy Primanta Putra faced four charges in court on 29 May under the Computer Misuse Act – two for unauthorised access to computer material, and two for unauthorised modification of such material.
According to police, Putra bought KrisFlyer accounts that were already compromised. He flew to Singapore in June 2024 and used the miles from these accounts to buy a Samsung phone and phone cover at Changi Airport, as well as pastries from a store in Bugis. The total value of the items was more than S$1,600.
Singapore Airlines reported the matter to the police in October 2024. By that time, Putra had already left Singapore in September 2024. He was detained by airport police when he returned to Singapore on 11 January 2025.
In court, Putra said he intends to plead not guilty. He claimed to have a lawyer, but none appeared.
Each charge of unauthorised access can lead to up to two years’ jail and/or a S$5,000 fine. Charges of unauthorised modification carry penalties of up to three years’ jail and/or a S$10,000 fine.
The Singapore authorities reminded the public to protect online accounts with multi-factor or two-factor authentication and to report any suspicious transactions immediately.