IPOH: Police arrested a 38-year-old man yesterday on suspicion of making a false bomb threat call at Klebang Aeon Mall here.
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Yahaya Hassan said the mall management received a phone call from an unknown individual about the bomb threat inside the building.
Following this, Yahaya said the management of the mall had lodged a police report yesterday at 4.50pm.
"Police ordered all assets, including the bomb squad, to check the mall and its surrounding area thoroughly before we confirmed that the mall was safe," he said in a statement today.
He added that after further investigation, police managed to arrest the man at a house in Tasek here at 9.30pm yesterday.
"The man is believed to be responsible for the bomb-threatening calls to the management based on his admissions and information received. We also seized the communication device used by him to make the fake call.
"Inspection throughout the shopping mall found no suspicious objects and after the condition was confirmed safe, all staff were allowed to re-enter the building at 10.30pm," he said.
Yahaya added that the man would be brought to court today for a remand order.
The case is being investigated under Section 507 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation by anonymous communication, which carries a seven-year jail term if convicted.
Yahaya also advised members of the public to refrain from making such conduct that could cause panic.