Construction firm Samwoh faces additional charges of improper use of drone following flood incident

SINGAPORE — Construction firm Samwoh Corporation was handed more charges on Wednesday (Feb 23) in relation to drone use. It was previously fined over unauthorised drainage works that led to a flood at the junction of Pasir Ris Drive 12 and Tampines Avenue 10 last year.

Court documents stated that on Sept 4 last year, at a construction site along Tampines Avenue 10, the company operated a DJI Mavic 2 Pro drone without an unmanned aircraft operator permit or a Class 1 activity permit.

Under the Air Navigation Act, those without a Class 1 activity permit cannot operate a drone in the course of business.

On Oct 2 last year at the same construction site, Samwoh again allegedly failed to operate the drone in accordance with its Class 1 activity permit.

Court documents did not state when it received the permit.

The firm was first hauled to court last year over the Aug 20 flood near furniture store Ikea Tampines, off Tampines Avenue 10, which led to five people being rescued from their partially submerged vehicles.

It was fined S$17,000 for altering a drain, obstructing the flow of a stormwater drainage system and constructing drain openings without the necessary approval or clearance certificate.

Its project manager, Fong Woei Jiun, was fined S$7,500 for failing to obtain a clearance certificate, or the necessary approval from PUB, to carry out drainage works.

The company had altered a drain along Tampines Avenue 10, between Avenue 5 and Tampines Link, by removing an existing drain and replacing it with a shallower one around Aug 20 last year.

It also obstructed the flow of the stormwater drainage system by erecting scaffolds to construct the new drain.

The case was adjourned to March 23.

Those convicted of operating an unmanned aircraft without a permit can be fined up to S$50,000. Individuals can also be jailed for up to two years.

Repeat offenders can be fined up to S$100,000 or jailed for up to five years, or punished with both.