May 31, 2010
Bomb hoax man acquitted
<!-- by line --> By Elena Chong, Courts Correspondent
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<!-- end left side bar --> <!-- story content : start --> A MAN who was earlier accused of making a prank call that plastic bombs were about to explode at Marina Bay Sands casino was cleared on Monday. The prosecution withdrew the charge against Mr Fang Xing Chi, 30, who was given a discharge amounting to an acquittal. The unemployed man was hauled to court about three weeks ago for allegedly calling the police and saying that 10 C4 bombs would explode in the casino.
He was also said to have told police they had 12 hours to respond, and that he was from Islamic Jihad Party. The alleged offence took place at a public phone at Block 677 Choa Chu Kang Crescent at about 1.50pm on May 10. No reason was provided in court for the withdrawal of the charge. Anyone found guilty of the offence under Regulation 8(1) of the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Regulations can be fined up to $100,000 or jailed for up to five years or both.