Man charged for flying drone along Raffles Avenue during National Day Parade
SINGAPORE – A man was charged in the State Courts on Wednesday (2 October) for flying a drone near the Padang area during this year's National Day Parade.
Tan Jin Kang, 21, faces one count of flying an unmanned aerial vehicle, a DJI Mavic 2 zoom drone, along Raffles Avenue in front of the Singapore Flyer on 9 August at about 7.55pm.
The drone is said to have ascended to 10.8 metres off the ground for about 45 seconds.
Police officers spotted the drone flying along Raffles Avenue at about 7.55pm. Tan's location was established and he was detained. The drone was seized for investigations.
Tan, who is unrepresented, told the court that he intends to plead guilty. He will return to court on 30 October.
Under the Public Order Act, the National Day Parade 2019 was declared an “Enhanced Security Special Event” from midnight to 11.59pm on 9 August. The area around the Padang, including Raffles Avenue, had been designated as a Special Event Area with security restrictions.
It is an offence to fly unmanned aerial vehicles in the Special Event Area without a valid permit under Section 26(2A)(b)(i) of the Public Order Act.
If convicted, Tan could be jailed up to a year or fined up to $20,000, or both.
Related story:
Man, 21, to be charged for flying drone at Padang during National Day Parade
