Sentosa sky lantern festival: Police investigating event amid complaints, calls for refunds

Source: TODAY

SINGAPORE -- Police investigations into the Singapore Sky Lantern Festival are ongoing amid complaints made against the event organiser and calls for refunds from attendees who were left disappointed and angry.

The police confirmed on Thursday (March 7) that a report has been lodged and that investigations are ongoing.

Participants had been sold on the promise of a photogenic lantern light-up with burning candles at Sentosa's Palawan Green on Feb 21. The lanterns were meant to float in the sky while being tethered to the ground.

However, scores of attendees were let down when they arrived only to be told that "unforeseen circumstances" had changed these plans, with LED candles offered instead and the light-up scrapped.

Tickets cost S$50 each excluding booking fees. One of the event organisers, Ms Shiermie Bautista, said in a since-deleted Facebook post that about 2,500 people attended the festival and collected their lanterns.

The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) said in an update on Friday that it has received 32 consumer complaints against the organiser.

"In general, consumers complained that the segment involving the release of sky lanterns, which was marketed as the highlight of the event, was cancelled without prior notice," said CASE president Melvin Yong.

"Given that Asian Couture and Boutique did not obtain the necessary licences and permit approvals to carry out the release of sky lanterns, it was not right for the company to proceed with the event without giving consumers prior notice that the sky lantern release segment was cancelled. There is also no clarity on the replacement event suggested by the company."

Mr Yong added that under these circumstances, consumers should be entitled to a full refund. Those affected can contact CASE for assistance via its website or hotline at 6277 5100.

In the immediate aftermath of the event, Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) directed ticketholders to contact the event organiser for refunds.

SDC also provided the contact details for Ms Bautista and fellow event organiser Mr Steven Lau.

However, the event organiser subsequently announced that ticket sales were final and non-refundable. Ms Bautista also said that those tickets would be valid for a rescheduled event around the first week of April.

"For those who can't attend the next event, you can re-sell your tickets at TicketSwap. Thank you for your kind understanding."

In response to queries from CNA on Friday, Mr Lau drew attention to an online form that participants could fill in, with details such as their ticket order number, fees paid per ticket as well as mobile and PayNow number.

One section required ticketholders to declare if they collected a lantern, pen and LED candle during the event.

When indicating their refund request, participants were also asked if they were unable to attend the festival or were present on that day.

The form required individuals to acknowledge the "possibility of a partial refund ranging up to 25 per cent of the ticket price minus the fees charged by Eventbrite". CNA