Tawau district police chief Peter Umbuas said the 30-year-old suspect, from Semporna, worked as an auxiliary policeman in Selangor.

He was arrested at 8.20am.

“The suspect, who was with his wife and two children, arrived at the airport from Semporna at 7am to fly to Kuala Lumpur but they were forced to endure a long wait.

“While the staff at the counter were inspecting items in their bags, the suspect said loudly: ‘There’s a bomb.’

“This was heard by staff at the check-in counter and people nearby,” he said at a media conference here today.

Peter said a bomb disposal unit was then called in to inspect the suspect’s bag but found only food packages in it.

The suspect was released on police bail today after being held for 24 hours and will be investigated for criminal intimidation under Section 506 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to two years.

He said the incident should be a lesson for others and reminded that bomb hoaxes at airports were against the law and could cause fear and panic among passengers and employees.