Two men charged over helping 3 people enter Singapore’s Taylor Swift concert wi

SINGAPORE: Two men were charged on Wednesday (Mar 6) over helping three people illegally enter a Taylor Swift concert at the Singapore Sports Hub.

Yang Chenguang, a 29-year-old Chinese national, allegedly talked to a security officer as a distraction while his compatriot Li Xiao Wei, 45, held onto a turnstile so three people could enter the concert venue.

The three people who allegedly cheated the event organiser by entering the concert were named in charge sheets as Shangguan Linmo, Hu Zhijin and Yang Junhao.

Yang Chenguang and Li are each accused of abetting the three concertgoers in their cheating of the event organiser Kallang Alive Sport Management at about 6pm on Mar 4, 2024.

This was Swift’s third day of her Eras Tour in Singapore.

The men were ordered to be remanded for investigations and will return to court next week.

The duo are the first to be charged after the police received a report on Mar 4 that several people had entered the concert premises without authorisation.

Preliminary investigations showed that three men allegedly helped four people without legitimate concert tickets enter the venue.

The third man has yet to be charged, and two men and two women aged between 21 and 25 are being investigated for criminal trespass.

If convicted of cheating, an offender can be jailed for up to three years, fined, or both.

For criminal trespass, an offender can be jailed for up to three months, fined up to S$1,500, or both.

RESPONSE FROM SINGAPORE SPORTS HUB
In response to queries by CNA, a Singapore Sports Hub spokesperson said security presence at the Sports Hub on event days was stepped up from Mar 2, in anticipation of the large crowds expected at the Taylor Swift shows.

Singapore Sports Hub security staff detained several people who attempted to sneak into the National Stadium on Mar 4 and the police were alerted, said the spokesperson.

She added that the Kallang Alive Sport Management (KASM) team “works closely with hirers and relevant government agencies to ensure the safety and security of patrons at events that take place at the Singapore Sports Hub”.

“KASM and the police will continue to work closely to ensure the safety and security of the public at events at the Singapore Sports Hub,” said the spokesperson.

She said KASM, which manages the Sports Hub, wished to thank patrons who came forward with observations that helped the security team and authorities close in on the trespassers.

She also reminded the public to only purchase tickets and merchandise from authorised sellers and to only enter the venue with a valid ticket.