A 68-year-old tourist from China who illegally flew a drone over
Marina Bay has been fined a whopping S$12,000 (US$8,900) by a court in
Singapore.
The court heard that retiree Zhong Zhensheng arrived in Singapore
with his wife on 25 June 2024, and later that day he headed out to take
aerial shots of Marina Bay.
Zhong was unaware of Singapore’s Air Navigation Act which forbids
operating a drone 60 metres above mean sea level in the Marina Bay
area for recreational purposes without a permit.
When Zhong’s drone soared to 148 metres, police were alerted by civil aviation authorities.
Zhong’s lawyer told the court that his “hapless client” did not see
any signs warning him of the restrictions on operating drones in the
area.
The court was not convinced, although Zhong was fined less than the amount called for by the prosecution.
The court probably took into account that Zhong had to remain in Singapore for a month awaiting judgement.
The message: Don’t be a dummy: Check the regulations if you take a drone into Singapore.