Bangkok – Thai authorities have arrested a Hong Kong-based photojournalist for carrying body armour and helmet.
Anthony Kwan travelled to Bangkok to cover the shrine bombing that killed 20 people, including two Hong Kong residents last week.
He was stopped at Suvarnabhumi International Airport while returning to Hong Kong Sunday night and charged with possession of an illegal weapon.
Kwan was arraigned in court Monday on the charge, which carries a penalty of up to five years in prison.
Thailand’s 1987 Arms Control Act prohibits the possession of military equipment, including body armour, without a licence.
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The arrest raised concern over the safety of journalists covering dangerous situations.
Two foreign journalists were killed in Thailand while covering violent political clashes in Bangkok during 2010. (dpa/NAN)
