2 Chinese nationals in Kuala Lumpur were arrested and detained by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) for trespassing a restricted area by “spying” on a Government building.
Both men were caught flying a drone around the restricted area in the building of the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) on August 6 at Jalan Padang Tembak.
PDRM’s Criminal Investigation Department (JSJ) said the Chinese nationals were caught in the act by Military Police (MP) personnel when they were patrolling the area. The suspects were spotted flying a drone in the restricted area.
In an official statement shared by JSJ on its socials, the police found and confiscated other items in the suspect’s hotel room, including memory cards and more drones.
During interrogation, the suspects said they ‘spied’ on the area with a drone after receiving instructions from their boss, but they were unaware of the objectives behind the instructions.
The suspects’ motives, however, are still under investigation, and at the time of writing, PDRM is contacting multiple international and local agencies to identify the suspects’ backgrounds and travel history.
Both suspects were arraigned at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court yesterday (August 14) on charges under Sections 3(a) and 4 of the Official Secrets Act 1972 for spying and conducting documentation in a restricted area.
The suspects, however, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to them in Mandarin.
No bail was granted, and the court has set September 11, 2025, for the submission of documents regarding the case. Stay tuned as we keep you updated.
