A tourist from China, who apparently got frustrated over not being able to get in touch with a Malaysian airline company to change her seat, resorted to sending a fake bomb threat.
She later pleaded guilty to one charge of criminal intimidation under Section 506 of the Penal Code but had a rather bizarre defense when asked to explain her actions.
Woman from China sends bomb threat over seat change
According to The Borneo Post, the woman, Liu Jinqi, was scheduled to fly to Kuala Lumpur from Tawau before transiting in Beijing on Sept 20.
However, she wanted to change her seat on the flight and tried reaching out to the airline company via its website, email and counters. Unfortunately, it all fell on deaf ears.
Liu then sent a message via the airline’s app chat service which read: “human service emergency bomb dangerous.”
The message was later read by one of the airline’s staff and it was reported to the police, which led to Liu’s arrest at a hotel.
‘I wanted to get their attention’
In court, Liu told magistrate Dayang Aidaku Amira Aminuddin through a court interpreter that she sent the fake bomb threat as a way to get the airline’s attention.
I only wanted to change my seat. I tried contacting the airline, but there was no response. That is why I used the word ‘bomb’ so that my message would get immediate attention.”
Fined RM5,000 by court
Liu’s lawyer appealed for leniency, stating that Liu regretted her actions and argued that she had no intention of causing public fear with the fake bomb threat.
However, prosecuting officer Assistant Superintendent Jeffrey Kadisun disagreed, saying the case was of “high public interest” and had potential to cause public panic, anxiety, and endanger lives.
“Although the threat was not real, it is still a serious offence, and an appropriate sentence should be imposed as a lesson, not only for the accused but also for the public so they do not repeat the same act,” he said as quoted by NST.
Liu was eventually fined RM5,000 in default of three months in jail if she failed to pay it.
She paid the fine on the spot.
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