Singaporean driver charged for unauthorised photos & videos at Woodlands Checkpoint

SINGAPORE: A 37-year-old Singaporean driver was charged on Saturday (17 August) under the Infrastructure Protection Act (IPA) for taking unauthorized photos and videos of an immigration officer at Woodlands Checkpoint on 12 August.

The driver, identified as Wong Jeo Wah, faces one count of photographing and filming without permission at a departure lane counter within the checkpoint, which is designated as a Protected Area.

It is also an offence to take photographs or videos within the checkpoint premises, which are designated as a Protected Area, without prior consent from the authorities.

The driver posted the photos and videos, including the officer’s name, to the Facebook group Complaint Singapore.

The post, which has since been removed, described an alleged interaction where the officer reportedly questioned the driver about comments he had made, although the driver claimed the conversation was unrelated.

The post also mentioned that the officer instructed the driver to wind down the window, although it was already down, and that the driver was subsequently taken to the Duty Office.

The driver expressed frustration about what they perceived as a waste of time, citing a 30-minute delay caused by the incident.

In a statement issued last Thursday (15 August), ICA  stated that its investigation revealed the driver had made inappropriate remarks after being instructed by the officer to remove a sunshade from the right passenger window during departure clearance.

“The driver also took photographs and videos of our officer when the latter was contacting his supervisors to report the incident.”

The ICA confirmed that the driver was referred to the Duty Office and received a stern warning after admitting to taking and agreeing to delete the photographs and videos within the checkpoint premises.

However, the photos and videos were later found to have been uploaded online, prompting the ICA to refer the case to the Police for further investigation.

On Saturday, the prosecution indicated that Wong might face an additional charge under IPA.

It was also noted that his wife cannot act as his bailor, as she is a prosecution witness.

Wong, who has been granted bail of S$10,000, stated that he would ask his wife to find an alternative bailor. He is scheduled to return to court on 26 August.

In August 2023, a couple was charged with taking videos inside the Police Cantonment Complex, a protected area under the IPA.

In November 2023, a man faced a charge for allegedly using a drone to unlawfully record at least 10 videos of Brani Terminal.

The man was accused of operating a DJI Mini 3 Pro unmanned aircraft to capture images of the commercial port, which is designated as a protected place under Singapore law due to its critical role in international trade as a “gateway to the world.”

Individuals found guilty of such offences can face a fine of up to S$20,000, imprisonment for up to 2 years, or both.