Man charged with making bomb threats during multiple calls with DBS

SINGAPORE — A 34-year-old man was charged in court on Wednesday (May 29) after he allegedly made bomb threats during multiple calls to DBS Bank.

According to court documents, Ang Cheng Shin committed the offence at the vicinity of Eunos Crescent on Monday between 1.30pm and 3pm.

A DBS representative called the police at about 2.10pm on Monday after receiving at least 30 calls from a man, said the police on Tuesday. The suspect had allegedly said he would be planting a bomb within an hour at the DBS headquarters.

The bank's main office — DBS Asia Central — is located at Marina Bay Financial Centre.

Officers from the Bedok Police Division were able to identify the man and arrested him within four hours of the reported bomb threat. 

"Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had no means to carry out his threat and there were no suspicious items found at the DBS Asia Hub and DBS Asia Central," the police said.

DBS Asia Hub is a nine-storey building at Changi Business Park.

If convicted for the offence of communicating false information of a harmful thing, he faces up to seven years' jail, a maximum fine of S$50,000, or both. 

The police said they treat all security threats seriously and will not hesitate to take action against anyone who causes public alarm with false threats.

"Beyond the fear and inconvenience caused to other members of the public, making false threats comes at the cost of public resources that have to be deployed to deal with the incident," the police added.

Ang's case will be heard again on June 26. CNA