Singapore Man Confesses to Sending Fake Bomb Threats After Losing Money Gambling on Cruise

Background of the Incident

A 41-year-old man from Singapore admitted in court that he sent fake bomb threats following losses of approximately SGD 2,000 (about $1,559) while gambling on a cruise ship. These threats caused significant disruption, prompting extensive security checks on the vessel.

Details of the Incident

Neo Hui Ghim pleaded guilty to one count of communicating false information about a dangerous situation. The incident occurred after he traveled on a Resorts World Cruises (RWC) ship from Singapore to Malaysia with his parents on October 11, 2023.

During the trip, Neo wanted to attend a concert but was informed all tickets were sold out. Disappointed, he spent time at the casino but soon lost a considerable amount of money.

The Threats Made

Two days after disembarking, frustrated by his losses and the missed concert, Neo began sending threatening emails less than an hour after leaving the ship. Using the email account he had used to book the cruise, he sent an initial message to the RWC member booking team titled “Bomb at Resorts World Cruises.” In this message, he threatened that the cruise would explode if he did not receive money back and suggested he would cause harm the next time he lost money on the ship.

Over the next few hours, he sent two additional threatening emails to the customer service and member booking teams, warning that the ship would explode or be burnt down if his demands were not met.

Response and Consequences

The alarming emails were quickly noticed by the RWC staff who identified the passenger as the sender. They reported the threats to a senior port operations manager, who involved the police.

Authorities from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority and the police boarded the ship to undertake safety inspections of the casino, cabins, and other areas. This caused delays of about two hours for approximately 4,000 passengers boarding the vessel.

The response was slowed by communication issues, including a lack of clear information about whether the accused was still on the cruise and panicked personnel during the phone exchange with auxiliary police officers.

Legal Outcome

Neo was arrested the same day. His sentencing was initially set for September 22 but was postponed to October 27. He faces a potential prison sentence of up to seven years, a fine of SGD 50,000 (around $38,981), or both penalties.