14-10-2023 (SINGAPORE) An Australian man is set to face charges for making a false bomb threat that forced a Scoot flight en route to Perth to return to Singapore, the police announced.
On October 12, the authorities received reports of a bomb threat aboard Scoot flight TR16. During the flight, the man allegedly informed cabin crew members multiple times that he had a bomb in his possession.
At the time, the plane had already left Singapore and had to turn back, escorted by Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) fighter jets, in response to the threat.
The flight landed at Changi Airport at approximately 6:26 pm.
“For the safety of all passengers and crew, officers from Airport Police Division and Special Operations Command’s K-9 Unit were mobilized to investigate the bomb threat,” the police stated.
Due to the additional security measures implemented to ensure the safety of everyone on board flight TR16, there was a delay of over five hours before the nine crew members and 362 passengers disembarked in Singapore at around 9:19 pm.
Subsequently, the flight continued from Singapore to Perth at 11:41 pm.
The police arrested the 30-year-old Australian suspect, and the bomb threat was determined to be false. He will face charges for making false threats of terrorist acts on Saturday.
If convicted, he may be subject to a fine of up to S$500,000 (US$364,830), a maximum prison sentence of 10 years, or both.
Under the Tokyo Convention Act 1971, if a crime occurs on a Singapore-controlled aircraft flying outside the country, the offender can be charged with the offense under Singaporean law.
Another Bomb Threat Case:
In a separate incident, the police arrested an individual who allegedly made a bomb threat aboard a cruise ship berthed at Marina Bay Cruise Centre.
The cruise operator alerted the police on October 13, at approximately 4:03 pm. The police, in collaboration with the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority and security officers from Marina Bay Cruise Centre, conducted extensive security checks on the cruise ship.
No threat items were discovered on board the cruise ship, according to the authorities.
Following follow-up investigations, a 39-year-old man was arrested. He will be charged in court with communicating false information regarding a harmful object on Saturday.
If found guilty, he may face a fine not exceeding S$50,000, a maximum prison term of seven years, or both.
The police emphasized their commitment to taking swift action against individuals who cause public alarm with false threats. In addition to the fear and inconvenience caused to the public, making false threats places a burden on public resources deployed to handle the incidents.
