THE STRAITS TIMES – A Singaporean man was fined SGD5,000 for pretending to be a bodyguard to a Selangor princess at a concert by South Korean boy band Enhypen at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in January.
The 49-year old did so to allow his 17-year-old daughter to skip the queue to enter the venue. He also wanted to keep an eye on her, the court heard.
On January 20, the man, his daughter and her female friend, also 17, were allowed to enter the premises earlier to beat the crowd. He was caught when he tried to pull the same stunt with his daughter for the second show the next day.
He was fined SGD5,000 on July 29 after pleading guilty to one count of cheating by personation. He cannot be named to protect his daughter’s identity as those below 18 are covered under the Children and Young Persons Act.
The concerts were held on January 20 and 21 and the man’s daughter had bought tickets for both shows.
On January 20, he called event organiser Anschutz Entertainment Group and lied that a “princess from the Selangor royal family” in Malaysia would be attending on both nights.
Deputy Public Prosecutor June Ngian told the court: “Explaining that he was the ‘princess’ bodyguard’, the accused informed the event organiser that he did not have tickets to the concert and asked to be given access so that he could ensure the princess’ safety’.
“In response to this, the event organiser asked the accused to turn up earlier… to facilitate his entry.”
The man then shared his plan with his daughter, said DPP Ngian.
The man, his daughter and her friend turned up for the January 20 concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium around 6.20pm.
He was given a lanyard and two wristbands for special early entry on January 20 and 21.
The two girls were not given any special tickets or passes as they possessed valid tickets.
During the concert, the man stood at the entrance area of the stadium to observe his daughter in her seat.
DPP Ngian said: “Following the concert, (an event manager became) suspicious of the accused and informed the security team and the Singapore Indoor Stadium that the accused may not be who he claimed to be.
“They then confirmed that (the man’s daughter) was not the princess of Selangor.”
The event organisers then lodged a police report. When the man and his daughter arrived for the January 21 show, they were escorted to an office while the staff sought police assistance.
