Man charged with bomb hoax call to police

SINGAPORE - A man was charged on Friday with making a hotline call to the police that dangerous people from Changi Prison were going to destroy or bomb some places.

No plea was taken from Li Hee Meng, 48, who appeared via video-link from Jurong police division.

The man, who had his long hair tied in a pony tail, allegedly told the operator on March 10 that "dangerous people from Changi Prison appear, going to destroy the place. If you want to act you act. Inform England and US Embassy. They say going to destroy or bomb some places".

He is said to have communicated the false information at Block 207, Boon Lay Place, with the intention of inducing a false belief that a terrorist act would be carried out.

He was remanded at Jurong police division for further investigation.

The case will be mentioned on March 20.

If convicted, he could be fined up to $100,000 and/or jailed for up to five years under the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Regulations.

elena@sph.com.sg

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