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| Down Under |
| Bomb scare accused 'joking' |
| 2005-04-20 |
| CULTURAL differences have been blamed for the arrest of the father of a celebrated Vanuatu singer, after the man told a Brisbane airport security guard he had a bomb in his luggage. Nigel Anthony Quai, 42, appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court today charged with one count of threats to aviation security. Mr Quai is the father of Vanuatu singing sensation Vanessa Quai, 16, who performed for Prime Minister John Howard and other federal ministers in Canberra last December. Australian Federal Police arrested Mr Quai last night after he allegedly said his luggage contained a bomb as he was preparing to board a flight home with his daughter. Commonwealth solicitor Judy King told the court Mr Quai had commented "there's a bomb in there" as a security guard scanned his luggage. The Quai incident is the second security drama at Brisbane Airport involving a high-profile South Pacific figure in the past month. Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare demanded an Australian Government apology after he was asked on March 24 to remove his shoes during a security check. Mr Quai's nephew Albert Viranatuleo, who was farewelling his uncle at the airport, said he was "just joking". He put the arrest down to a misunderstanding caused by cultural differences. "We checked in our luggage and we took some parcels over to over-sized baggage and, as a security guard took a scan of what may or may not be in one of the parcels, my uncle made a comment to me," Mr Viranatuleo said outside court. "He was just joking to me of what was in the parcel and the security guard had just caught what he had said. From there protective services had come in. "At the time I don't think he (Mr Quai) knew how serious it is here in Australia. "Coming from Vanuatu, security wouldn't be as tight as it would be in the airport here. "You would be able to say that (there) and not get arrested. They would probably just have a talk to you." Mr Quai, who sings back-up vocals in his daughter's band, was ordered to surrender his passport. He was bailed to reappear for mention in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday. Ms Quai, who has just finished a promotional tour of eastern Australia, is widely regarded in Vanuatu for her fusion of Islander and gospel music. |
| Posted by:God Save The World |
| #2 Maybe he can experience another cultural difference - a cavity search by Sgt. Howie Hamfist? |
| Posted by: Pappy 2005-04-20 6:42:02 PM |
| #1 Yeah...ummmmmmmmmmm... "cultural differences"! That's it! |
| Posted by: Tommy Flanagan 2005-04-20 11:02:21 AM |