Police said they spotted an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) being flown along Raffles Avenue at round 7.55pm on 9 August. (PHOTO: Getty Creative)

SINGAPORE — A 21-year-old man is set to charged on Wednesday (2 October) for flying a drone at the Special Event Area around the Padang during this year’s National Day Parade.

In a news release on Tuesday, police said they spotted an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) being flown along Raffles Avenue at around 7.55pm on 9 August. Through ground enquiries, officers located the UAV’s operator and detained him. The UAV was also seized as a case exhibit.

This year’s National Day Parade had been declared as an “Enhanced Security Special Event” from midnight to 11.59pm on 9 August. Over the same period, the area around the Padang – including Raffles Avenue – had been designated as a Special Event Area, within which security restrictions were imposed.

Under the Public Order Act, it is an offence to fly UAVs in Special Event Areas without a valid permit. Those convicted of doing so face a jail term of up to 12 months, a fine not exceeding $20,000, or both.

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