Oil worker who made bomb joke sacked and fined
19.09.07
A Portuguese oil worker was sacked from his job after joking with Aberdeen Airport staff that he had a bomb in his bag. He was also fined £600 over the incident yesterday.
Carlos Martins, 30, told staff he had a 'small bomb' in his luggage as he was being checked-in for a helicopter flight offshore. He was arrested when alarmed workers at Scotia Helicopter Terminal at the airport called in police.
Fiscal depute Zoe McDonnell said: 'The accused arrived at the desk to check in for his flight. He was asked the normal security questions including whether he had any sharp items in his bag. He replied: "Just a small bomb". The police were called in and he was searched. He told them he was only joking.'
His solicitor, David Sutherland, said Mr. Martins had made the comment in jest and did not mean to cause alarm. Mr. Sutherland said: 'The staff member had humoured him and told him that he should not be saying things like that.'
'She then checked his details and his bag was searched. She told a colleague who called police. As a result of this incident, he was dismissed by his employers. His remark cost him his job. It was an ill-conceived remark.'
Noble Drilling bosses sacked Mr. Martins after he committed the breach of the peace on 4 July. He now lives with his parents in Portugal. The court case was dealt with in his absence yesterday, because he said that he could not afford to return to Scotland. He was fined £600, which he must pay within four months.
Add to: del.icio.us | Digg it | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
To book aberdeen airport hotels or aberdeen airport parking at the lowest price, click on these links to two great aberdeen airport parking and aberdeen airport hotels price comparison websites.
