A 23-year-old Swedish exchange student was sentenced to four weeks’ jail on Dec 1 after he infiltrated several restricted zones—including the exclusive Paddock Club and the pit lane—at the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix 2025.
The offender, Alkallas Karam, slipped into the race grounds after a 17-year-old event volunteer took pity on him and pretended to scan a blank mobile phone screen to let him through. The minor, identified as B1 in court documents, cannot be named under the Children and Young Persons Act, according to Straits Times report.
Series Of Events
- Swedish student found F1 tickets too expensive and planned to sneak in.
- Approached volunteer twice claiming his ticket was “with a friend.”
- Teen volunteer eventually let him in by pretending to scan a blank phone screen.
- Offender wandered to a restricted service road behind the Paddock Club.
- He found a chained gate and tried guessing the bicycle lock code. Searched “how to pick bike lock number” and cracked the lock using online tips. Entered the Paddock Club, video-called his sister, and roamed among drivers and guests. Slipped past an auxiliary officer and entered the highly restricted pit lane. Lied that the gate was “unlocked,” triggering a full perimeter and bomb sweep.
- Arrested the next day and given four weeks’ jail for criminal trespass.
Too Expensive “So He Decided to Sneak In“
According to Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Adelle Tai, Alkallas had asked friends about F1 ticket prices on Oct 3 but found them unaffordable. Nevertheless, he turned up at Gate 1 of the Circuit Park on Oct 4 intending to “try his luck.”
At around 7pm, he approached the volunteer stationed at the entrance and claimed his ticket was with a friend. B1 instructed him to wait aside, but Alkallas lingered near the gate and returned about 30 minutes later with the same excuse.
Despite being refused entry twice, he persisted. Eventually, B1 relented out of sympathy and agreed to help him get in.
Alkallas then queued with paying spectators and held up his phone displaying a blank screen. The teenager mimed a ticket scan, allowing him to slip into the event grounds.
Once inside, Alkallas wandered to a service road behind the Paddock Club located at the Marina Bay Street Circuit Pit Building. The restricted zone was designated for F1 drivers, crew and distinguished guests, including a government minister who attended the event that evening.
At about 8.40pm, he reached a rear gate secured with a bicycle chain lock. Court documents revealed that the area was left unmanned because it led only to a tyre storage section.
He attempted to guess the combination on the lock, and when unsuccessful, used his mobile phone to search online for “how to pick bike lock number.” Applying the instructions, he managed to crack the code and let himself into the Paddock Club. He rotated the lock numbers afterward to conceal his tampering.
Inside the high-security venue—where access requires a VIP pass and multiple security checks—Alkallas freely roamed the ground level, video-called his sister, and was seen laughing as an F1 driver walked past.
After using a restroom, Alkallas walked past an auxiliary police officer and entered the pit lane—one of the most heavily restricted operational zones where F1 vehicles, drivers and teams operate during live race periods.
He snapped two photographs before the officer confronted him and asked for his pass.
Alkallas falsely claimed he had found the Paddock Club gate unlocked and insisted the padlock had been left hanging. When escorted back to the gate, he said he had locked it “for security reasons.” He continued to deny tampering with the lock until investigators confronted him with his Internet search history.
Security Sweep Activated
His claims triggered significant security consequences. Because he initially insisted the gate had been unsecured, the police and Security Command treated the incident as a potential breach. Officers were recalled between 12.30am and 2am to conduct a full perimeter inspection and bomb sweep.
The event organiser, Singapore GP, also suffered operational disruptions. Staff working in food, beverage, logistics and cleaning roles had to halt restocking and preparation work, leave their rest periods, and open pre-packed cargo for inspection.
Arrest and Sentencing
Alkallas was arrested on Oct 5. He pleaded guilty to two charges of criminal trespass, with several other charges considered for sentencing.
DPP Tai emphasised that the offender’s actions forced security personnel into urgent deployment, disrupted event operations, and compromised the integrity of the high-security F1 zones.
The court sentenced Alkallas to four weeks’ imprisonment, stressing that restricted areas at major sporting events are safeguarded for safety and security reasons—and unauthorised breaches, regardless of intent, cannot be taken lightly.
Image via Google & ST
- Exchange Student Jailed After Sneaking Into F1 Singapore Grand Prix Paddock Club
- Shocking : NSF pleads guilty to offering money to underage boys for sexual acts
- Tanjong Pagar U-21 Player Who Knocked Opponent Unconscious Faces Court
- Woman Fined S$21,500 for Keeping 79 Unlicensed Dogs, Defying NParks for Years
- Man Jailed After Failing to Report Girlfriend’s Death in Hougang Condo
