BOMB threats are something that are frightening, dangerous and need to be taken seriously – so any alert received by the management of a public place needs to be taken at face value to protect the safety of people visiting that location. Recently, an Ipoh shopping mall received a bomb threat in an email and it has since been claimed that it was in fact a hoax.
Is there any truth to this?
Verdict:
TRUE
In a statement on Monday (May 22), Ipoh OCPD Asst Comm Yahaya Hassan confirmed that the bomb threat received by the management of a shopping mall here was in fact a hoax.
He said that a 43-year-old man was arrested at his house in Kampar on Sunday (May 21) at about 11.30pm following a report that was lodged on the same day earlier at about 4.55pm.
"We also seized a communication device used by the man. The man is said to have a history of mental illness and is seeking psychiatric treatment at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital," he said in a statement.
"The man tested negative for drugs," he added.
ACP Yahaya said the shopping complex's manager had received the email from an unknown sender at about 2.55pm on Sunday.
"A bomb disposal unit from the district police was sent to check the premises and confirmed the threat was fake.
"The case is being investigated under Section 507 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation by anonymous communication," he said.
ACP Yahaya added that the case had been solved with the investigation papers completed and submitted to the deputy public prosecutor's office for the next course of action.
"We want to remind the people to avoid and not to spread false information that could cause anxiety and jeopardise public safety," he added.
