A 52-year-old British man has been charged in Singapore after allegedly concealing a camera in the lavatory of a Scoot flight from Japan to Singapore. He received one charge for voyeurism and one charge for obstructing the course of justice.
Camera Discovered by Cabin Crew
On Nov. 5, Hugh Lutley, a 52-year-old British man, appeared in a district court accused of committing the offences. According to police, he allegedly hid a camera in an aircraft lavatory onboard a Scoot flight and activated it remotely through an app on his smartphone. A cabin crew member later used the toilet and noticed the camera, removed it and alerted a colleague.
Lutley then allegedly attempted to retrieve the camera from the toilet but found it had already been taken. He is accused of deleting the app and all related photos and videos from his phone in an attempt to avoid detection.
The police were alerted on Oct. 7 at 5:35 p.m., and Lutley was detained upon arrival at Changi Airport, where officers seized his phone and camera.
The man was charged under Singapore’s Penal Code, read together with the Tokyo Convention Act. The voyeurism charge carries a penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, caning, or any combination of these penalties. The obstruction-of-justice charge carries a maximum prison sentence of seven years, a fine, or both.
What is Voyeurism?
According to the Singapore Police Force (SPF), voyeurism is the act of observing or filming another person who is engaged in a private act without his or her permission. In this case, concealing a camera in an aircraft lavatory is a form of voyeurism.
SPF said in a statement that it has zero tolerance towards sexual offenders who threaten the personal safety of the community. The public is encouraged to remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings and report suspicions of voyeurism immediately.
Have you ever encountered a situation that made you feel your privacy was compromised while travelling? Let us know in the comments!
