10 Nov 2008

Jail sentence in French Polynesia for pointing laser at plane

9:47 am on 10 November 2008

A court in French Polynesia has sentenced a man to 15 days in jail for pointing a laser at an aircraft.

The incident happened last month when the man pointed the laser at an Air Tahiti plane.

Police, who were alerted by the pilot after he was blinded, say the man was unaware of the risks his action posed.

There is no regulation in French Polynesia on the sale of lasers which can be beamed up to 17 kilometres.