Probation for hoax bomb-threat caller

A 22-year-old man who suffers from a mental health condition has been sentenced to three years’ probation after he admitted to making an anonymous bomb threat at an entertainment club two years ago.

Inspector Geoffrey Azzopardi charged the man with filing a false police report and misuse of communication devices on 3 May 2013, when he had made an anonymous phone call to the police, claiming that a bomb had been placed at Numero Uno Club in Ta' Qali.

He had told Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera how, on the day in question, he had gone to photograph the celebrations of the feast of St Joseph in Rabat

Once he was there, he had used a public telephone box to call the emergency services and make the false report, hanging up when asked to supply his details.

However, the accused then walked up to a policeman who was near the church of Ta' Giezu, asking him what the chances were that someone who had made an anonymous phone call from telephone box would be caught.

The accused showed contrition, admitting that it was a bad decision to try and pull that prank, adding that it was the first time he had done so.

The court found the man guilty on both charges. After noting that the crimes were committed on the spur of the moment and taking into account the accused’s youth and clean criminal record, placed him on probation for three years.

Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi defended the man.