A 37-year-old Singaporean driver, Wong Jeo Wah, is set to plead guilty to charges under the Infrastructure Protection Act after taking unauthorized photos and videos of an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer at Woodlands Checkpoint.
Wong made his intentions clear during a court appearance on Monday (Aug 26), stating he was unaware of the severity of the offense.
Wong faces one charge of recording images and videos without consent at the departure lane counter of the checkpoint on August 12, approximately at noon.
Under Singapore law, checkpoint premises are considered protected areas, and capturing visual media without permission is a serious offense.
According to CNA, the prosecution requested a four-week adjournment to finalize investigations, which include forensic digital analysis of Wong’s mobile phone. Additionally, the prosecution indicated that there may be further charges forthcoming.
Wong appeared in court without legal representation and expressed his surprise regarding the gravity of his situation, remarking, “(I) did not realise that the offence was so serious that I was in remand.”
He confirmed his intention to plead guilty and declined to seek legal counsel.
The case has stirred attention following the incident in question, which was followed by a social media post the next day.
Images and videos of the ICA officer, accompanied by his name, were shared in a Facebook group, Complaint Singapore, with allegations of the officer being rude during the immigration process.
According to report, the dispute began when the officer instructed Wong to remove a sunshade from the passenger window, prompting Wong to retaliate with “uncalled for remarks.”
The ICA indicated that after Wong admitted to capturing the media at the checkpoint, he was referred to the duty office and issued a stern warning.
Despite agreeing to delete the recorded content, it was subsequently posted online, prompting ICA to escalate the matter to the police.
If found guilty, Wong could face a maximum penalty of two years in prison, a fine of up to S$20,000, or both. His next court date is scheduled for September 23, and he is currently out on bail of S$10,000.
Image via Facebook
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