A man and a woman were arrested in Singapore for allegedly breaking airport laws in what seemed to be a desperate attempt to buy the new iPhone 7 at Changi Airport's transit area.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, police said the two - whose names, ages and nationalities were not disclosed - were arrested on September 16 in one of the airport's transit areas.

Apple's new iPhone had sold out in the city soon after its launch on September 16. Changi Airport has three iStudio stores which sell Apple products in the transit areas.

"Investigations revealed that both suspects were believed to have entered the transit area to purchase the Apple iPhone 7 and had no intention to depart Singapore," police said in the post.

Changi Airport's transit areas are designated as "protected places" under the law.

Police warned that those who "misuse their boarding pass to enter the transit areas, with no intention to proceed to their next destination, are liable for an offence under the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act."

The suspects may each be liable to a fine of S$1,000 (US$730) and a jail term of up to two years.
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