Boy threatens to bomb Marina Bay IR
By Andre C. Neville
My Paper
Monday, Dec 31, 2012
SINGAPORE - He threatened to take "big revenge" on Singapore by planting bombs in Marina Bay Sands and spitting everywhere before he leaves the country.
He also made derogatory remarks about the country.
These comments that a boy posted on Facebook have drawn flak from netizens, prompting one of them to lodge a police report after seeing a screengrab of the post on The Real Singapore's Facebook page last Saturday.
According to his Facebook profile page - which was taken down yesterday afternoon - the boy, called Aditya Bhatia, claims to be from New Delhi, and received his education at Global Indian International School in Queenstown.
The school's website states that it takes in students from primary- school level to junior college.
From his profile photo, he looks to be in his teens.
When contacted about the boy's post, a Marina Bay Sands spokesman said: "The safety of our guests and staff is of paramount importance, and we will take all necessary steps to ensure a safe and secure environment for all at Marina Bay Sands."
The spokesman added that the integrated resort has made a police report on the Facebook post and will assist the authorities with their investigations.
Police confirmed that they received a report from a netizen and are looking into the case.
Many people told My Paper that the student's comments were reprehensible.
"He has acted in an irresponsible and immature manner, and his comments should not be taken lightly," said events-management executive Richard Lim, 26.
Accountant Doreen Khoo, 32, said: "The boy should be arrested for threatening and endangering the lives of innocent people."
The boy's remarks follow a spate of incidents this year in which offensive online messages have riled Singaporeans.
In February, Chinese scholar Sun Xu called Singaporeans "dogs" on his Weibo account.
Then, in October, former NTUC employee Amy Cheong posted a racist rant on Facebook.
Earlier this month, Filipino Seagate employee Carlos Pestano III called some Singaporeans "rotten locals" on Facebook.
Lawyer Lee Terk Yang said that anyone who posts documents containing incitement to violence can be fined and/or jailed under the Penal Code.
