KUALA LUMPUR: The Foreign Ministry today confirmed that a Malaysian journalist, Mok Choy Lin, was detained by Myanmar authorities over allegedly recording video illegally.
Wisma Putra, in a statement, said Mok who works for Turkish Radio and Television, was detained on Friday due to an unauthorised video recording of Hluttaw Building (House of Representative) at Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.
The statement said Mok, a Singaporean and a Myanmar, were currently being investigated by the authorities over the matter.
Wisma Putra said the ministry through the Malaysian Embassy in Yangon is monitoring the case and will render the necessary consular assistance accordingly.
Earlier, AFP reported that Mok, Singaporean Lau Hon Meng and two locals had been charged for allegedly breaching import laws after they flew a drone over the country’s parliament.
The men will be held in custody until their first court hearing on charges that carry up to three years in jail or a fine for the import and export of "restricted or banned goods" without obtaining a licence.
The report also quoted deputy police colonel Kyaw Moe as saying that they would be remanded until Nov 10.
Several journalists have been arrested in Myanmar this year, fuelling fears of an erosion of the press freedoms that blossomed after the end of junta rule in 2011.
Many have been charged with defamation or arrested for reporting on armed rebel groups.