ST Forum
Straits Times
27 May 2008
(c) 2008 Singapore Press Holdings Limited

[by]Kelly Lim (Ms) Head, Public & Internal Communications Branch for Commissioner, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
[/by] Toh Boon Ngee Assistant Director (Media Relations) (Covering) Singapore Police Force


WE REFER to the letter by Mr Melvin Tay, 'Seized mini handcuff keychain sold in a mall' (May 17).
We contacted Mr Tay on May 15, three days after the incident, to clarify the matter and made arrangements for collection of his mini handcuffs.

We would like to apologise to him for the unnecessary anxiety and inconvenience caused.
Our officers at Woodlands Checkpoint made a wrong assessment. Thumbcuffs are indeed not on the list of prohibited items.

Members of the public who would like to find out more about prohibited items in Singapore may visit the website www.spf.gov.sg/licence/AE/others/List_AE.pdf for more information.

Seized mini handcuff keychain sold in a mall
ST Forum
17 May 2008
Straits Times
(c) 2008 Singapore Press Holdings Limited

[by] Melvin Tay

ON MONDAY, I returned from a shopping trip in Johor Baru and was shocked to be detained by Immigration and Customs Authority officers at the Woodlands Checkpoint.

An officer told me that a keychain that I had used as a decoration on my bag was in fact a thumbcuff, a prohibited item. The keychain was shaped like a pair of mini handcuffs. Each cuff had a diameter of 2cm.

I was subsequently ushered to a room for questioning. An officer asked if I knew that the 'thumbcuff' was a prohibited item. I explained that the keychain was a souvenir from a colleague who bought it at the Alcatraz museum in the United States.

I had to sign an acknowledgement receipt stating that the item I had was prohibited and must be surrendered to the police for their disposal.

They also made copies of my identity documents. After I regained composure following my release, I realised the absurdity of the claim that I had committed an offence. I decided to check the Singapore Police Force website. While handcuffs were mentioned, there was no mention of thumbcuffs.

Although my keychain is shaped like a pair of mini handcuffs, it can be easily unlocked by pressing on its sides without requiring any keys. My souvenir was simply a keychain and not a thumbcuff.

What is more, a friend of mine managed to buy a souvenir called the 'Guilty Lock/Key Ring', which looks very much like my souvenir keychain, at a local retail store in a reputable shopping mall for only $29. This mini handcuff set comes with an actual locking mechanism and a set of keys to unlock it.

Would the authorities care to clarify if I have indeed committed an offence by having a keychain that is not a real thumbcuff, and explain why a souvenir that is designed with an actual cuff mechanism can be sold openly locally?