Australian executive held with Sat phone at Mumbai airport
14 July 2014 11:54 PM GMT
A 54-year-old Australian national, working as a vice-president in a company in Malaysia, has been arrested from the domestic airport here for allegedly possessing a satellite phone, police said on Sunday. McDonald Bruce Andrew, who was to take flight to Goa with his wife and children, was found with Iridium company’s satellite phone when he was intercepted at about 1.45 PM on Saturday by personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), they said.
He was granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 15,000 on Saturday itself.
India has banned the use of sat phones and even if foreigners coming in with valid documents permitting them to carry such phones, the domestic authorities reserve the right to overrule such permissions.
‘McDonald was charged under relevant sections of the Indian Wireless Telegraph Act 1933, Indian Telegraph Act 1885 and subsequently arrested,’ said Lahu Gautam Thate, Sub-Inspector at Airport Police station.
‘McDonald claims he was not aware of the rules in India. He is carrying the satellite phone as it will not have any network problems like cell phone have and says he has no other ill intentions,’ Thate said.
He was granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 15,000 on Saturday itself.
India has banned the use of sat phones and even if foreigners coming in with valid documents permitting them to carry such phones, the domestic authorities reserve the right to overrule such permissions.
‘McDonald was charged under relevant sections of the Indian Wireless Telegraph Act 1933, Indian Telegraph Act 1885 and subsequently arrested,’ said Lahu Gautam Thate, Sub-Inspector at Airport Police station.
‘McDonald claims he was not aware of the rules in India. He is carrying the satellite phone as it will not have any network problems like cell phone have and says he has no other ill intentions,’ Thate said.
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