Thursday, the 37-year-old man who allegedly claimed there was bomb aboard a Singapore Airlines aircraft was denied bail because he poses a threat to the public.
La Andy Hien Duc, an American, was accused on September 29 with using threatening language and intentionally inflicting bodily harm while traveling on SIA aircraft SQ33 from San Francisco to Singapore.
He allegedly shouted that there was a bomb on the plane and snatched the bags of another passenger from the overhead compartment.
In addition, he reportedly struck a flight attendant who attempted to restrain him.
Hien Duc, who did not present in court on Thursday, filed a bail application.
Psychiatric observation has been ordered at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH).
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Lim Ying Min opposed Hien Duc's release on bail in her written submissions.
According to DPP Lim, the IMH doctor has determined that the defendant constitutes a threat to the public.
She continued, "The pressures of living in a foreign country, especially the fact that he has no permanent residence and no one to check his medication compliance, are risk factors for relapse."
According to the Straits Times, Hien Duc has been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
The prosecutor stated, "The defendant has a history of cannabis usage." Should he acquire access to medicines, his likelihood of relapse will increase.
If anything, remanding the offender is also in his own safety's best interest.
Hien Duc, according to DPP Lim, posed a flight risk.
She underlined that he is a citizen of the United States with no ties to Singapore. He is unemployed and lacks residential property ownership.
She stated, "Therefore, there is a genuine possibility that the defendant would flee if he is released on bond." If this occurs, public faith in the criminal justice system would deteriorate."
District Judge Terence Tay agreed with the arguments stated by the prosecutor and decided that no bail would be granted to Hien Duc.
The judge permitted Hien Duc's defense attorney, Mr. Johannes Hadi of the Eugene Thuraisingam legal company, access to his client.
Hien Duc was one of 208 passengers on the Sept. 26 flight that departed San Francisco at 10:26 p.m. (Sept 27, 1.26pm Singapore time). The flight was due to land at 5am in Singapore.
Six hours after arriving in Singapore, he claimed to have a bomb in a handbag, according to preliminary findings.
The threat was reported to the police at around 2:40 a.m. on September 28.
The aircraft was escorted by two Republic of Singapore Air Force fighter planes until it arrived at Changi Airport at around 5:50 a.m.
The Ministry of Defence said on September 28 that teams from the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Explosives Defence Group of the Singapore Army and the Airport Police Division were present to check Hien Duc's accusations.
Mindef stated that the threat was bogus.
In accordance with the Tokyo Convention Act of 1971, if a crime occurs aboard a Singapore-controlled aircraft travelling outside the nation, the perpetrator may be prosecuted under Singaporean law.
Initial Central Narcotics Bureau investigations found that the man's urine contained restricted substances.
The maximum penalties for using threatening language that is likely to create alarm is $5,000.
The maximum penalty for intentionally inflicting harm is three years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both.
On October 27, Hien Duc is scheduled to appear in court.
Comments