S'porean tourist, 44, arrested for flying drone without permit in Pattaya during nationwide drone ban

A 44-year-old Singaporean tourist was arrested in Pattaya, Thailand on Aug. 7 for flying a drone apparently to get an overhead view of a famous pedestrian street.

This was in violation of a nationwide ban on flying drones imposed by the Thai government amidst border tensions with Cambodia.

Arrested for flying drone

The man, surnamed Goh, was arrested on Aug. 7 at around 12:20am, at Walking Street in the Bang Lamung district of Pattaya, according to Thai media.

Goh had been caught piloting a drone above Walking Street, a one-kilometre stretch that turns into a bustling pedestrian street at night.

He was detained and brought to Pattaya City Police Station.

Goh told police via an interpreter that he was an avid photographer and flew the drone so he could enjoy a high-angle view of the street, Thaiger reported.

He did not have a drone-flying permit required by Thai law.

Police seized Goh's drone, remote control, spare lithium batteries, drone control glasses and black shoulder bag.

According to Amarin TV, police recorded Goh's arrest and filed charges against him for flying a drone without a permit.

The police inspector handling Goh's case said the case will be reported to the Royal Thai Police.

Thailand's ban on drone flights

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand has imposed a nationwide ban on drone flights until Aug. 15, in a bid to detect and suppress spy drones.

Military officers are authorised to shoot down drones that breach the order.

On Aug. 3, a Swedish tourist was detained for flying a drone along Pattaya Beach, Pattaya Mail reported.

The man said he had just arrived in Thailand and was unaware of the temporary ban.

He was issued a formal warning and released without charges.

On Aug. 6, Thailand's acting Prime Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, said that the government has tightened security measures, including for drones, following the arrest of a Cambodian soldier suspected of espionage in Thailand.

Phumtham said drone permits would be restricted to agricultural zones outside the seven border provinces, on a case-by-case basis.

Top image from Amarin TV