Police have arrested a 42-year-old man on 20 Sep 2010 for making a bomb-hoax call to the Police emergency hotline '999'.

On 20 Sep 2010 at about 11.47am , Police received an anonymous call via the emergency hotline '999' stating that there was a bomb at a hotel along North Bridge Road . Following the call, security measures were stepped up while investigators from Central Police Division immediately conducted investigations to trace the anonymous caller. The officers worked quickly and soon tracked down a 42 year-old male suspect who is believed to have perpetuated the hoax, which was established to be unsubstantiated. He was placed under arrest at about 6pm the same day.

The suspect will be charged in Subordinate Court 26 on 22 Sep 2010 at 9am 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.

Commander of Central Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Tan Hung Hooi, commended his officers for their excellent investigative follow-up which resulted in the swift arrest of the suspect. He added, “We view such threats seriously and will deal sternly with persons who perpetuate hoaxes of this nature."