Delivery rider jailed 15 months for false bomb threats against DBS headquarters

A delivery rider was sentenced to 15 months in prison on Nov. 28, 2024, for making false threats about planting a bomb at the headquarters of DBS on May 27, 2024.

The bomb hoax resulted in a total of 67 people, including police officers, DBS staff and landlord security personnel being deployed.

Ang Cheng Shin, also named Hong Zhenxun in court documents seen by Mothership, pleaded guilty to an amalgamated charge of communicating false information about a harmful thing.

Another amalgamated charge of using vulgarities against the bank's customer service operators was taken into consideration during sentencing.

Owed DBS S$11,479.63 in the form of credit card debt

Court documents stated that as of Dec. 31, 2023, Ang owed DBS S$11,479.63 in credit card debt.

The debt was the result of accumulation of interest on a debt of S$647.52 which he had incurred in 2011.

While he made payments over the years, they were not sufficient to settle the debt and interest continued to accumulate.

In December 2023, Ang agreed to a debt repayment plan which would begin from January 2024.

The plan involved a total of S$3,840 repayment over 12 monthly instalments of S$290, with the remaining debt to be written off.

However, from January to May 2024, he did not make any repayment.

As a result of his failure to do so, in line with its institutional policy, DBS implemented an automatic dial-up system that entailed calling the accused once or twice every few days.

If Ang picked up the call, the call would be redirected to a DBS Customer Service Officer who would engage with the accused.

Called nine times by DBS on May 27, 2024, told all nine operators he intended to bomb DBS headquarters

On May 27, 2024, between 1:44pm and 1:55pm, Ang answered nine calls from the bank made by the automatic system.

On each occasion, the call was transferred to a different customer service operator stationed at DBS Asia located at Changi Business Park.

Ang told all nine operators that he intended to plant a bomb at the headquarters of DBS located at Marina Bay Financial Centre.

This alarmed the operators and some of them brought the matter to the attention of the bank's senior management.

A DBS employee then called the police at 2:11pm over the bomb threats.

As a result of Ang's threats, 19 police officers in six police cars, 22 DBS personnel and 26 landlord security personnel were deployed.

Police officers, DBS staff, and security personnel worked together to conduct a bomb sweep of the building, including the perimeter of its carparks and disposal centres.

Bank staff and security personnel also conducted a bomb sweep at DBS Asia.

Accused was performing delivery work when he was arrested

The police traced the mobile number used for communication between Ang and customer service operators, and tracked his whereabouts to Paya Lebar and Ubi where he was performing delivery work.

He was eventually arrested at Singpost Centre.

In their sentencing submissions, the prosecution asked for a sentence of 15-18 months imprisonment as they noted that bomb hoaxes are "particularly pernicious".

The prosecution noted that it is impossible to immediately ascertain the veracity of threats and that authorities must balance between the need to conduct verification and not creating undue panic.

Catastrophic consequences may follow from the slightest miscalculation, the prosecution added.

In addition, bomb hoaxes by their very nature cause a considerable drain on essential and emergency services, and siphons them away from actual emergency situations.

CNA reported that Ang was unrepresented, as his appeal for legal aid from the Public Defender's Office was unsuccessful.

He was quoted as asking for a sentence of three to four months as he had to support his elderly father.

For an amalgamated charge of communicating false information about a harmful thing, Ang could have been imprisoned for up to 14 years, fined up to S$100,000, or both.

Top image via DBS Facebook