A Chinese tourist was sentenced in Singapore for attempting to bribe at Changi Airport

A Singapore court has sentenced a Chinese tourist to four weeks in prison after she tried to bribe airport officials to board a flight to Amsterdam without a valid visa.

Zeng Xuying, 52, pleaded guilty to offering a bribe to an agent under Singapore's Prevention of Corruption Act, VnExpress reports.

She and her companion arrived in Singapore on a flight from Samui Island in Thailand on October 16. The couple was in transit in Singapore and was expected to board a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight to Amsterdam in the Netherlands on October 17.

However, they were denied entry after being checked at the gate by airport security officials who discovered that they did not have valid visas. The airline also decided not to allow the couple to board the plane.

According to the indictment, Zeng put her arm around a security officer's shoulder and gave him S$70 (US$50), asking him to help her talk to the airline to allow her to board the flight.

The staff repeatedly refused to take her money and went back to the counter to check again if Zeng and her companion could board the flight, but the airline staff announced that they could not board the flight because they did not have a valid visa.

While the couple waited for a decision, another security officer asked for Zeng's passport to check her travel history.

Zeng handed over her passport along with 50 US dollars hidden underneath, but the officer refused to accept the money.

Zeng was subsequently arrested for attempting to bribe both officers.

Under current Singapore law, those who corruptly offer rewards to an agent could be imprisoned for up to five years or fined up to S$100,000, or both.