Perth man charged over False Mayday Call

[NaFenn]

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/ma...1019-h40u.html

Police have charged a 25-year-old Clarkson man who they believe is behind a hoax mayday call that sparked a $48,000 marine search on Saturday night.

The man currently works in the marine industry and reports have suggested he is a volunteer firefighter.
"He has some experience in search and rescue techniques and a background in the marines," Detective Constable Linda Carter said.

She said the bogus call was allegedly made from his house where they seized several items including a VHF marine radio.

He has been charged with creating a false belief and will appear in Joondalup Magistrates Court tomorrow.
The maximum penalty for the charge is two years imprisonment or a $50,000 fine. He could also be made to pay back the cost of the search.
Police said today the cost of the search was "estimated at $48,000".


The call


Yesterday police called off a 19-hour search for a sinking boat near Rottnest Island after realising the call may have been a prank.
The distress call was made to Water Police at 9.40pm on Saturday from a vessel called Sea Dolphin 2.
The caller said the vessel was "taking water and the crew were going to abandon the boat" about 40 nautical miles north of Rottnest Island.
Sergeant Adam Mack said 21 staff, 15 volunteers, seven boats, a helicopter and a fixed wing aircraft spent Saturday night and yesterday looking for the vessel.

For those who do not understand - a "Mayday" Call is a call for URGENT and IMMEDIATE assistance, generally when lives are at risk (Eg, an aircraft that has had a total engine failure, or a ship that is sinking). More or less, it's like calling 000, 911, 112, or whatever your emergency number is, in this case... where there is no emergency.


After some investigation by a firend: turns out he has done the same stuff before:


http://australiansonline.net.au/news...20/1112366.htm

A 20-year-old man has been given a six month suspended jail term for making bogus radio transmissions to Perth Airport.

Scott Bradley Pike has been convicted on three charges that he scaled a fence at Perth Airport and stole a transceiver, which he then used to make hoax calls to aircraft and the control tower.

Pike's lawyer argued the transmissions did not pose a serious threat because they were largely nonsensical.

The argument was rejected by Magistrate Richard Bromfield who said Pike had placed pilots and passengers in danger.

Pike's six month jail term has been suspended for two years.

He has been fined $2,500 and placed on a good behaviour bond.

The guy is an ABSOLUTE idiot, and he should have the book thrown at him BIG time.

authorities take all Mayday and Pan Pan calls very seriously... and AUSSAR will come looking for you if you make one - so its not something to play with

[FlyingKiwi]

Stupid people. There was a similar thing here just a few weeks ago, a mayday call from a boat allegedly sinking. After an extensive search involving helicopters, boats and an Orion aircraft, they concluded it was a hoax.

[Iconic]

What an idiot/s, but $48000 how the hell would it cost that much?

I could see wages come into it but not that much

[NaFenn]

Originally Posted by Brad..

What an idiot/s, but $48000 how the hell would it cost that much?

I could see wages come into it but not that much

One (Maybe two) Twin Jet Engine Helicopter, approx $3,000 per hour EACH (incl Crew, Fuel, and running costs)... which ran well into the following morning

That would make up mopst of it, along with sea-boure crews, and they may have called in the RAAF

[Ashes]

What a fool.