SINGAPORE, Dec. 24 -- A Chinese national who boarded a Singapore Airlines flight with the intention of stealing from business-class passengers has been jailed for 20 months, in a case prosecutors say underscores the growing threat of mid-air thefts.

According to Singapore-based media organisation CNA, 26-year-old Liu Ming admitted to one count of theft after taking a passenger's bag during an overnight flight from Dubai to Singapore on August 7-8.

The court heard that Liu was financed by a criminal syndicate and had boarded flight SQ495 specifically to target high-value belongings. The victim, a 52-year-old Azerbaijani man, was seated five rows ahead of Liu; his wife sat a row in front of the offender. None of them knew each other.

Liu...