Police have arrested a 39 year-old man on 7 Jul 2010 for making a bomb-hoax call to the Police emergency hotline '999'.

On 7 Jul 2010 at about 3pm , Police received an anonymous call via the emergency hotline '999' from a man who claimed that he was a terrorist and that Sentosa would be blown up. Following the call, security measures were stepped up while investigators from Central Police Division sprang into action to trace the anonymous caller. The officers conducted extensive ground enquiries and managed to establish the identity of the suspect. Their efforts paid off when the suspect was spotted by eagle-eyed officers along Tras Street on 7 Jul 2010 at about 11pm. He was placed under arrest there and then. Investigations revealed that the threat was not substantiated and the call was a hoax.

The suspect will be charged in Subordinate Court 26 on 9 Jul 2010 at 9pm for an offence of Breach of the Prohibition Against False Threats of Terrorist Acts under Regulation 8(1) of the United Nations (Anti Terrorism Measures) Regulations 2001 punishable under Sec 5(1) of the United Nations Act, Chapter 339. If convicted, he is liable to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both. A court order will also be sought for the suspect to be remanded at the Institute of Mental Health for psychiatric assessment.

Commander of Central Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Tan Hung Hooi, commended his officers for their excellent investigative follow-up which resulted in the arrest of the suspect within 8 hours. He added, “We take all terrorist threats seriously and will deal sternly with persons who perpetuate such hoaxes”.