Chinese Nationals Sentenced to 14 Months for Temple Donation Box Theft in Singapore
Two Chinese nationals, Liao Yongzhan, 43, and Liao Quanwan, 50, have been sentenced to 14 months in jail each in Singapore. They pleaded guilty to two charges related to breaking into the Burmese Buddhist Temple in Balestier and stealing approximately $300 from its donation boxes. The incident occurred between 1:15 AM and 4:30 AM on April 2, 2026. The men, who were friends from China, had traveled to Singapore with the intention of gambling and committing theft, believing the country to be wealthy. They prepared improvised fishing tools, consisting of strings and sticky tape, to extract cash from the donation boxes. After arriving in Singapore as part of a tour group, they conducted reconnaissance before targeting the Burmese Buddhist Temple. Their actions were interrupted by a Buddhist lecturer, prompting them to flee. They were later arrested at the immigration checkpoint upon their return to Singapore in August 2026, where they had planned another theft.
