By Islam El-Sakka
A 52-year-old British man is due to appear in court in Singapore after allegedly concealing a camera in an aircraft toilet during a flight from Japan on 7 October and remotely activating it via a mobile phone application, Singapore Police Force said on Wednesday.
Incident Details
Airport Police Division officers were alerted at about 5.35pm on the day of the flight. Preliminary investigations found the man had placed the camera in one of the aircraft's toilets before leaving it and activating the recording function remotely. A cabin crew member discovered the device while using the toilet, removed it, and alerted a colleague.
The man later attempted to retrieve the camera but found it had already been taken. He then allegedly deleted the application and all related photographs from his phone in an effort to avoid detection. He was detained for questioning after the plane landed at Changi Airport, and police seized his mobile phone and the camera as evidence.
Charges and Penalties
The man faces one count of voyeurism under Singapore's Penal Code, read with the Tokyo Convention Act 1971. If convicted, he could receive up to two years in prison, a fine, caning, or a combination of these punishments. He also faces one count of obstructing the course of justice under Section 204A of the Penal Code, read with the Tokyo Convention Act, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.
Police Response
Singapore police stated they have "zero tolerance for sexual offenders who threaten the personal safety of the community" and urged the public to remain alert to possible incidents of voyeurism. The UK Foreign Office has been contacted for comment.
