Australian fined for saying 'bomb' on Singapore flight

SINGAPORE, Nov 15 (Reuters) A 65-year-old Australian man was fined S,000 (6,423 dollars) by a Singapore court for uttering the word ''bomb'' on a flight to Indonesia, The Straits Times reported today.

Riccardo Paulin, a retiree, pleaded guilty yesterday to having asked a flight attendant ''Where do you keep the bomb?'' on a flight operated by Singapore regional carrier SilkAir to the Indonesian city of Surabaya, the newspaper said.

The newspaper said he made the remark after trying to find space in the overhead lockers.

Paulin was charged under the United Nations anti-terrorism regulations, which carry a maximum fine of S0,000 or up to five years in jail or both.

He apologised to the court for his remark, saying it was meant as a joke.

REUTERS PB KP1526