A SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) pilot caught with pornographic material in his personal computer at the Adelaide International Airport on Saturday has been fined A$12,000 (S$15,000).

Captain Ng Kok Yauw, a 41-year-old Malaysian, is the third person arrested by the Australian Customs Service in less than a week, amid a crackdown on attempts to bring pornography into the country through the southern Australian city.

The other two arrested are a 41-year-old Singaporean, whose identity is not known, and Mr Ahmad Said, 23, a Malaysia Airlines (MAS) co-pilot.

The Singaporean, who has been similarly charged, will be back in an Adelaide magistrate's court on Feb 25.

The MAS pilot was reported in Malaysian media to have been fined A$6,000. He has been suspended from flying pending an MAS inquiry.

He was caught with three video files, including one believed to involve child pornography, in his laptop.

His lawyer told the Australian court that his client had been sent an e-mail containing the files and had not deleted them or shown them to anyone else.

As for Capt Ng, a spokesman for the Australian Customs told The Straits Times that when he was questioned by officers, he denied carrying prohibited items.

But when they checked his laptop, they found 'objectionable material depicting abhorrent sexual acts'.

The spokesman said all people entering Australia, be they pilots, cabin crew or regular passengers, are subject to the same checks, and will be dealt with if caught carrying prohibited items.

Offences involving objectionable pornography carry fines of up to A$110,000; if child pornography is involved, the fine can go up to A$275,000, and the jail term up to 10 years.

Dr John Harrison, an aviation security expert with the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at the Nanyang Technological University, said that while it is common for passengers to be asked to turn on their laptops to prove that they are working, it is not often that airport officials would check files and other documents.

Capt Ng, who was charged in court on Monday, is due home in a few days.

SIA spokesman Stephen Forshaw said in response to queries: 'The captain involved will not be flying until our flight operations management have had the opportunity to speak to him directly about this matter and make an assessment.'

Pilots The Straits Times spoke to said Capt Ng is married with at least one child.

A senior SIA pilot, who did not want to be named, said he is 'a nice chap and a regular family man, not the wild flamboyant sort. It is a shame that this has happened'.

karam@sph.com.sg

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