Thailand has dropped charges against a Hong Kong photographer who was arrested last year for bringing in a bulletproof vest and helmet.
Hong Kong photojournalist Anthony Kwan Hok-chun was arrested on Aug. 23 for carrying the body armor in his hand luggage, which are considered weapons in Thailand.
Kwan, who had traveled to Thailand to cover the aftermath of the Erawan shrine bombing, was charged with breaching the Arms Control Act, which can carry a jail term of up to five years.
But the government withdrew the charges in December and the court ended the case in January, Samut Prakan court officials told the Associated Press today.
The photographer pleaded not guilty to the weapons possession charge and his lawyer today confirmed the case had been dropped.
Kwan was unavailable for comment.
He previously told reporters “I don’t think that a flak jacket is a weapon and I definitely didn’t know it was illegal here.”
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Thai court charges Hong Kong photographer for carrying flak jacket
