S’porean man arrested for alleged bomb threat against Taiwanese politicians

SINGAPORE: Singaporean authorities have apprehended a 53-year-old man following allegations of bomb threats made against politicians in Taiwan.

The suspect purportedly sent threatening messages via Facebook to a member of Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT) party saying he will “use the bomb to blow you to pieces.”

The individual, identified as Spencer Lui according to his Facebook profile, reportedly conveyed menacing statements to a prominent KMT politician, Lo Chih-chiang, including threats to detonate bombs at his residence and the Legislative Yuan building.

He allegedly told KMT’s Lo Chih-chiang, “I am going to bomb your home,” as well as “I have sent messages to Han Guo You on his Facebook to inform him that I am going to use a lot of bombs to blow up Han Guo Yu and his family to pieces.”

Additionally, Lui allegedly targeted another KMT figure, Han Kuo-yu, the current President of the Legislative Yuan, with similar threats.

Investigations conducted by Taiwan’s law enforcement revealed that Lui had been a frequent visitor to the country.

He is active in social media discussions, commenting on current affairs. Lui also often voices discontent towards Taiwanese politics, specifically targeting the KMT party and calling it “scum.”

Police responded to alleged bomb threats

The matter came to light when Lo Chih-chiang reported the threats to Taiwanese authorities, prompting swift action from Singaporean law enforcement.

Lo posted the screenshots of Lui’s messages on his Facebook post on 2 March.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) stated in a news release issued on 25 March that they received a report of the bomb threats on 4 March, initiated by an individual who had seen Lo’s Facebook post detailing the threats.

Subsequent investigations by the Bedok Police Division led to the identification and arrest of the suspect.

Preliminary inquiries suggested that Lui did not possess genuine intentions to carry out the threats.

The SPF emphasized its commitment to treating all security concerns seriously, underscoring the severe repercussions of false threats on public safety and the allocation of resources.

Making false bomb threats not only creates unwarranted panic but also drains valuable public resources, SPF said.

Spencer Lui is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, 26 March, 2024, where he could face a maximum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to S$50,000, or both, if convicted.