Idiot gets 60 days jail for claiming he had bomb at Toronto check in - Air France flight

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Mother of jailed bomb joker says he's sorry

The mother of an Australian violinist arrested at a Canadian airport for joking he had a bomb said today her son was sorry.

Sinan Safet Acar, 21, from Melbourne, was sentenced by a Canadian judge to 60 days in jail after joking he had a bomb while checking in his luggage at Toronto's Pearson International Airport.

He reportedly pleaded guilty to charges of mischief, interfering with lawful operation of property and making a false declaration under the Aeronautics Act.

Mr Acar made the comment while checking in for an Air France flight to Paris on Sunday, September 16, police said.

The flight was delayed for more than two hours while security officers searched the area.

Police said the sentence was more severe than usual because of the heightened state of alert at airports after the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

Mr Acar's mother Fatima said she was worried about her son because he was young and active.

"He can't sit somewhere two minutes, you know," she told ABC radio.

"How can he stay in jail, I don't know? He's too young, you know. Young people don't understand much, they're joking.

"He's said sorry a hundred times. But they have to keep him because he gave big trouble to the airport, to himself."

She said she wanted to hear his voice.

"It hurts me too much that I can't do anything. I worry too much. I can't contact him, you know," she said.

"I want to say to him don't do anything anymore like this.

"If I have to pay money to take him out and take him to Australia, I do everything for him. Because I don't want to leave him two months there."

AAP/AP

21 ? He's not a child anymore.

6 months is a joke- should have gotton a lot more

6 months would be a joke... the 60 DAYS that he got is just ridiculous... especially as an Example.

I know quite a few Aussies. Their sense of humor can be "over the top" in terms of what one might be used to in other places. I find it delightful (I posted an experience with Perth passport control last year somewhere on these boards) but it's not always appropriate. I suspect this chap didn't have enough experience with other countries and/or international travel to realize this. Hard way to learn a lesson, but it will probably stick.

I think 60 days is enough for him. Is it enough to make him an example? I don't know, but is it fair to punish someone more than he/she deserves for that reason alone? If it is, do we cut the punishment once we decide there have been enough examples, or keep it higher than it ought to be for consistency? Neither makes much sense.

Calm down, everyone, it wasn't a real bomb! I think 60 days makes for a good example. We're talking actual jail here, not probation.

The Constitution prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. Years of prison for a fake bomb threat would qualify as unconstitutional IMHO.

Believe me, I am very upset at this terrorist attack. Not only do I live in Queens and work in Manhattan, but the twin towers of the World Trade Center was my favorite building(s) in the world!

I didn't read or post much on FT until yesterday, as I found reading the newspaper to be enough reminders of this horrible event.

However, trampling on the Constitution in the name of security is not going to do us any good. All it will do is extend the misery to everyone in this country. The Founding Fathers knew what happens when the government is given unlimited powers, and they wanted to prevent that from happening in the New World. Until living on Mars is feasible, let's keep the USA a free country!

If his name was not Sinan Safet Acar and he was not of Lebanese origin, but if his name was Leroy. J. Holmes III from Dullsville Mississippi who made the same (stupid I agree) wisecrack would HE have got 60 days?

Hmmmm.

Totally excessive sentence IMO. Even a few days would teach the kid a serious lesson.

This is one thing I just don't get, and can't agree with. Nothing you say anywhere in an an airport has any meaning or validity. Even the questions acked at check in (did you check your own bags etc) are not asked under oath, it's not like you could perjure yourself. And since any terrorist is a liar as well, what's the point? If they had competent security personel who know how to properly search for weapons, or if our FBI database (as well as other countries intelligence agencies) were actually hooked up to the airlines reservations systems, maybe then our skies would be a little safer.

Jailing jokers is meaningless.

I rather doubt that passengers who were delayed and/or frightened by this joker's behaviour felt that his jail sentance is meaningless...



[This message has been edited by djbaruch (edited 09-24-2001).]

Keep in mind that this incident took place in Canada. US Constitutional Protections and Laws do not apply in this case.

[This message has been edited by radella (edited 09-24-2001).]

I rather doubt that any passengers were delayed or that many passengers were even aware that anything was even going on. I agree he's an idiot, but any delay or upset was caused by the reponse to his 'joke' and not because there was an actual security threat.

Yes, this took place in Canada, I wonder if checked bags there are screened any better than they are here?

I mean, think about it.

6,000 people are dead.

I'm sure the terrorists answered all the security questions correctly, and were models of deportment as they made their way through the airport, from check in thru security, to boarding, right up to the time when they started cutting throats.

I'm so sick over this, but I'm outraged that our security procedures are so lax. And unless we follow El Al's example and do real screening with trained professionals, anything said to any airport personel is completely meaningless.

This has actually already been discussed in OMNI, where I guess it really belongs:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum...ML/002662.html

Anyway, as I have stated there - 60 days is absurd. 2 days would be more like it, no real terrorist would ever claim to have a bomb at check-in, who are we kidding?

He's sorry? Yeah, whatever. He deserves what he got. People will get the message to not screw around.

It's not right for some joker to force the evacuation of an entire airport, causing trouble for thousands of customers and probably scaring a lot of them.

Nobody should screw around with this kind of stuff anymore. It wasn't funny before September 11, and it's sure as hell not funny now.

He's sorry? Yeah, whatever. He deserves what he got. People will get the message to not screw around.

It's not right for some joker to force the evacuation of an entire airport, causing trouble for thousands of customers and probably scaring a lot of them.

Nobody should screw around with this kind of stuff anymore. It wasn't funny before September 11, and it's sure as hell not funny now.