US citizen held at KIA for carrying satellite phone

A passenger from the United States was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport for carrying the satellite phone without valid documents. The suspect was Pearl Angela Mecenas.

The suspect was Pearl Angela Mecenas.

Wireless Telegraphy Act (WTA) bans carrying satellite phones across India. According to the police, she was to fly by Jet Airways 9W488 flight to Mumbai from where she was scheduled to fly to America on October 3.

"She was carrying the instrument in her hand baggage when the CISF staff found the instrument in her hand baggage during a routine check at departure gate around 6.10 pm. She failed to produce documents for the instrument," said a police officer.

Later, she was taken into custody for questioning by the CISF personnel who lodged a complaint with the police on October 4.

"During the questioning, the suspect claimed that she was using the satellite phone in her country and had brought it to India from there," the officer added.

She was produced before the magistrate, while she paid penality for carrying Thuraya satellite phone violating the WTA norms.

The phone has been handed over to the American Embassy. She has been asked to collect it from there after producing valid documents.