Italian Swimmers Detained at Singapore Airport

Italian Swimmers Detained at Singapore Airport Over Alleged Shoplifting Incident

According to a report by The Associated Press, Italian swimmers Benedetta Pilato and Chiara Tarantino had been detained by airport authorities earlier than flying residence from Singapore. After competing on the World Championships in Singapore, Pilato and Tarantino took a trip to Bali, solely to return to Singapore to get on.a flight again to Italy. But earlier than boarding, Pilato and Tarantino had been detained on suspicion of shoplifting.

The Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Tarantino positioned gadgets that she stole in Pilato’s suitcase and authorities had video footage of the incident. The Italian embassy ultimately acquired concerned and helped prepare for the return of the swimmers to Italy. Meanwhile, the Italian Swimming Federation launched a press release indicating it could consider the scenario.

A longtime presence on the worldwide scene as an elite breaststroker, Pilato received the bronze medal on the World Championships within the 50-meter breaststroke. She used a social media account to handle the airport incident.

“On days that should have been mainly for rest and mental relaxation, I went through, far from home, particularly difficult moments, which fortunately turned out to be independent of my will, but which seriously affected me,” Pilato mentioned. “I wish to specify that I collaborated with native authorities from the very starting, with the total help of the Italian embassy. Fortunately, the incident ended inside a couple of hours, with none implications, due to my most transparency with the Singapore airport authorities.

“I never intended to commit inappropriate gestures, and those who know me know how much I care about sport values, fairness and personal honesty. From this experience, I’ve learned great lessons about prudence, individual responsibility and the value of the people around me.”