A UNITED Airlines passenger was arrested after he was apparently caught installing a hidden camera in the first class bathroom of the plane to film fellow travellers and flight crew.
The camera was discovered after a female passenger spotted a “device with a blue blinking light” near the bathroom cabinet and close to a door hinge.
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The Malaysian traveller named as Choon Ping Lee has since been accused of planting the camera on board United flight 646 from San Diego to Houston on May 5, according to KTRK.
After the woman spotted the blinking light, the woman finished using the bathroom and grabbed the item with a paper towel and gave it to a member of the flight crew.
After landing in Houston, crew members turned the device over to airline security officials, who quickly determined that it was a video recording device.
The United officials then handed it over to the FBI.
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Federal agents were able to identify the clothing and accessories worn by the person who installed the creepy camera in the United bathroom, KHOU reported, and connected it to Choon Ping, who was seen in surveillance footage boarding the flight while wearing the same outfit.
United officials confirmed that Choon Ping, a native of Malaysia and employee of Halliburton, also sat in first class on United flight 646 on May 5.
After reviewing the camera, the FBI said that the device also contained illicit footage filmed in the bathroom of an Emirates flight.
Choon Ping has been charged with video voyeurism within the maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.
If convicted, he faces up to twelve months, a fine or both.
He is being held in a Houston-area detention facility ahead of a bond hearing, the Houston Chronicle reported.
A United spokesperson told Fox News: “The safety and security of our customers is our top priority.
“When our crew was alerted of this issue they acted quickly to notify the appropriate authorities.
“We will fully cooperate and support this investigation as it moves forward.”
A Halliburton spokesperson added: “Halliburton is aware of the situation and is cooperating with the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s office in their investigation.
“We have a robust Code of Business Conduct and expect every employee to abide by the standards contained in the Code and all applicable laws.”
Is voyeurism also illegal in the UK?
Voyeurism also falls until Section 67 of the Sexual Offences Act of 2003 in the UK.
There are four subsections under voyeurism:
- Getting sexual pleasure while watching another person doing a private act and they have not consented
- Operating equipment with the intention of having them or someone else watching for sexual gratification from an unconsenting person doing a private act
- Recording an unconsenting person doing a private act and does with intention of them or someone else getting sexual gratification
- Installing equipment, or constructs or adapts a structure or part of a structure with the intention to watching an unconsenting person doing a private act for sexual gratification
If found guilty of voyeurism, the punishment can be up to two years in prison as well as fined up to 50 per cent of their weekly income.
Earlier this year, a backpacker in Australia was horrified to find hidden cameras and microphones in his room after accepting a job on a remote farm.
A school in Halifax sparked outrage after installing CCTV cameras in the pupil toilets.
Sun Online Travel has also contacted Emirates for comment.
This article was originally published by Fox News and has been reproduced with permission.
