A Chinese tourist was fined RM5,000 by the Tawau Magistrate’s Court today after admitting to sending a fake bomb threat to an airline last week.

The accused, Liu Jinqi, 28, received the sentence from Magistrate Dayang Aidaku Amira Aminuddin after pleading guilty to criminal intimidation. The case facts were presented by ASP Jeffrey Kadisun, while the charge was read by a court interpreter.

According to the amended charge, Liu had sent a message through AirAsia’s official Ask Bo app on September 20 at 11.55am, typing “human service emergency bomb dangerous.” The message was later read by an airline staff member at his home in PPR Taman Sri Balaung, Tawau.

The case was investigated under Section 506 of the Penal Code, which provides for up to two years’ jail, a fine, or both.

Tourist’s last resort was a bomb threat to draw attention

Represented by lawyer Chen Wen Jye, Liu appealed for leniency, explaining she had no intent to cause alarm but only wanted to draw attention after several failed attempts to change her seat via the website, email, and ticket counters.

“I just wanted to change my seat. Since AirAsia didn’t respond, I used the word ‘bomb’ so that my message would be noticed immediately,” she told the court.

The magistrate, however, emphasized that such threats are serious and can incite panic, before imposing a RM5,000 fine or three months’ jail in default.

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Source: The Borneo Post