Thai photographer fined S$15,000 for drone footage over SAFTI
What's new: The 26-minute flight reached 459 meters, and the drone stored 18 videos, including 3 showing protected military areas.
A Singapore court fined Thai freelance photographer Prayut Rittichaipornkul S$15,000 on Friday after he flew a drone without permits and captured footage of protected military sites near western Singapore. Prayut, 32, pleaded guilty to two offenses under the Air Navigation Act and unmanned aircraft regulations, while five similar charges were considered in sentencing. The court heard he launched a DJI Mavic 4 Pro from C&R Interiors' office at 20 Joo Koon Crescent on April 21 to film the building for marketing use in Thailand. During the 26-minute flight, the drone crossed into Pasir Laba Camp and the SAFTI Military Institute. The Republic of Singapore Air Force detected the drone, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore traced it to his location before officers seized the device.