116 drug offenders nabbed in island—wide operations

CNA: 116 drug offenders nabbed in island—wide operations

SINGAPORE: Narcotics officers have nabbed 116 drug offenders in two major operations carried out island—wide over three days.

Eleven were arrested for suspected drug trafficking and 105 for suspected drug consumption.

Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) officers also seized drugs with a total estimated street value of S$83,700.

In the first operation carried out on 10 and 11 August, they arrested nine people who were suspected of trafficking drugs at various locations.

CNB officers also arrested 105 suspected drug abusers and those wanted for drug—related offences at various locations around Singapore including Clementi, Sengkang, Bukit Merah and North Bridge Road.

The arrests led to a seizure of various drugs, including about 44 grammes of Ice and 32 grammes of heroin, with a total street value of S$16,200.

In the morning of 12 August, CNB launched another major operation targeting a suspected drug distributor operating in the eastern part of Singapore.

Officers tailed the 41—year—old Singaporean from Ang Mo Kio where he met up with his accomplice.

They were then tailed to Bedok where they were arrested by CNB officers.

Two bundles of heroin were found in their vehicle. The heroin weighed about 450 grammes and its street value was over S$67,500.

The two men will be investigated for the offence of drug trafficking under the Misuse of Drugs Act and may face the death penalty if convicted.

— CNA/al

SADPC - Statement regarding Khor Soon Lee's appeal and an appeal for Cheong Chun Yin‏

18 April 2011 

On Saturday, 16 April 2011, we received news that Singapore’s Court of Appeal had overturned the death sentence of Khor Soon Lee, who was convicted of drug trafficking in 2009. 

According to the information reported by the press, Khor who was arrested on 9 August 2008 at Woodlands Immigration Checkpoint, was not aware that he was carrying heroine although he knew that he was carrying other drugs. 

It is encouraging to hear the decision of the Court and we hope that this will not be the only case whereby other factors are taken into due consideration before a convict gets sentenced to death or before an appeal gets dismissed.

We appeal to the Court of Appeal to apply similar practice on other cases. 

Cheong Chun Yin

One example is the case of another Malaysian by the name of Cheong Chun Yin who was convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to death in February 2010. In his statement and during the court proceedings, Cheong told the Court that he believed that he had been smuggling gold bars from Burma instead of heroin. 

If the Court of Appeal was able to look through the evidence to decide that Khor had no knowledge that he was carrying heroin in his appeal, they should also be able to do the same for Cheong. 

Unfortunately Cheong’s case has progressed to the last stage. He is now waiting for the President’s reply to the clemency petition that was submitted at the beginning of the year. 

As time is running out, we urgently urge the authorities of Singapore to look into Cheong’s case once again and allow him one last appeal, putting into consideration the fact that he claimed no knowledge of smuggling the drug into our shores at all. 

Afterall, the purpose of the legal process is to avoid punishing the innocent, and I am sure that we do not want to send an innocent man to the gallows for a crime that he did not intend to commit.

Thank you.

Rachel Zeng
Singapore Anti-Death Penalty Campaign
sgdeathpenalty@gmail.com

AsiaOne: S'pore drug syndicate leader arrested

AsiaOne: S'pore drug syndicate leader arrested

Fri, Oct 08, 2010

AROUND 4.7kg of heroin was seized by Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) officers in what is deemed as the biggest haul since 2008.

The estimated street value of the haul is $702,000, said CNB in a statement on Friday.

A 38-year-old man suspected to be the leader of a local drug syndicate has been arrested, along with two others.

CNB officers launched an operation at around 7.30am on Thursday when information was received that a drug transaction will be taking place.

Officers spotted the syndicate leader leaving his flat at Commonwealth Close at 9am.

He proceeded to the Kitchener Road area, where he was seen meeting up with a 56-year-old man and handing over an envelope, which contained $3,000.

Both were immediately arrested.

The 56-year-old man led officers to the syndicate leader's car, where 600g of heroin was recovered.

A 38-year-old man, believed to be the leader's associated, was also arrested in a follow-up raid of the leader's flat.

CNB officers recovered a bag with 4kg of heroin, as well as drug paraphernalia, including weighing scales, empty plastic sachets and drug smoking utensils.

All three are Singaporeans and unemployed.

They are currently being investigated for drug trafficking and face a minimum of five years' imprisonment and caning.

Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, the men might also be sentenced to death.

S'porean caught with drugs at Thai border

AsiaOne: Nabbed S'porean tries to kill himself

Fri, Sep 17, 2010
The New Paper

Ang Beng Bee tried to kill himself after he was arrested.

A SINGAPOREAN man went berserk and tried to kill himself by cutting his wrists and throat with a razor after he was arrested by Thai officials for having over 4,000 ecstasy pills, Thai online news MCOT said yesterday.

Ang Beng Bee, 46, was caught at a Thai-Malaysian border checkpoint in the Sadao district of Songkhla province during a random check. Thai customs officers found 4,384 ecstasy pills, 1g of crystal methamphetamine or "Ice" and five nimetazepam pills, a hypnotic drug, in his luggage.

Their total street value: S$152,000. Ang, who was treated at Sadao Hospital, said he had travelled from Johor to sell the drugs in Sadao and Hat Yai.

It's not known how Ang, who speaks fluent Thai, came in possession of the weapon, Pattaya Daily News reported. He may have concealed it on him, the report said.

Activists cry murder over Singapore hanging

FMT: Activists cry murder over Singapore hanging

By Teoh El Sen

KUALA LUMPUR: Anti-death-penalty activists have asked the Singapore government to admit that it wrongfully executed a young Malaysian in 2003 and demanded that it release British writer Alan Shadrake, whose latest book sheds new light on the case.

“Singapore has murdered an innocent person in cold blood,” said N Surendran of Lawyers for Liberty in reference to the hanging of M Vignes, who was 21 when he was arrested in 2001 on suspicion of drug trafficking.

Surendran was speaking to reporters outside the Singapore High Commission, where his organisation and the Civil Rights Committee of the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall had submitted a memorandum demanding the abolition of the death penalty and a halt to all pending executions.

Vignes was hanged in Changi Prison on Sept 26, 2003. Shadrake is awaiting trial for criminal defamation and contempt of court for allegations he made in his book against the Singapore government.

He was arrested a day after the launching of the book, Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice in the Dock.

“Alan's book revealed a shocking truth,” Surendran said. “We now know the key witness in Vignes's trial was himself being investigated for rape, sodomy and later convicted of corruption."

'Crucial facts'

Surendran said Singapore authorities had maliciously concealed these "crucial facts" from Vignes's lawyer, M Ravi.

"Worse still, when Ravi asked Chief Justice Yong Pung How whether an innocent man could be hanged because of procedural matters, he replied 'Yes, the answer is yes’. This is as if the CJ has himself strangled him with his own hands."

The memorandum was submitted to the High Commission’s first secretary, Walter Chia. It demanded that the Singapore government:

• acknowledge the miscarriage of justice that led to the execution of Vignes;
• clear Vignes’s name and make amends to his family;
• institute immediate reforms in the Singapore judiciary to ensure Singaporean judges appreciate and respect human life and liberty;
• take appropriate action according to the Singapore Constitution against Chief Justice Yong;
• halt all pending executions in Singapore and commute death sentences to imprisonment; and
• withdraw all pending criminal charges against Shadrake and apologise for his wrongful arrest and imprisonment.

Speaking to reporters, Vignes' father, V Mourthi, said he still felt as if his son was alive.

"I know he is innocent,” he said. “I want to know what the Singapore government is going to do about this. I hope the truth will finally come out.”

Drug Trio Sentenced To Gallows By Shah Alam High Court

Bernama: Drug Trio Sentenced To Gallows By Shah Alam High Court

SHAH ALAM, July 22 (Bernama) -- The Shah Alam High Court on Thursday sentenced three men, including a Singaporean, to the gallows for trafficking in 2.1kg of methamphetamine, three years ago.

Foreman Gan Thean Lim, 46; mosaic layer Gan Thiam Boon, 35; and Singaporean Ang Eng Thye, 47, a building contractor, were found guilty of trafficking in the drugs.

The offence was committed in Room 7107, Pyramid Tower Hotel, Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya on Feb 6, 2007.

They were convicted under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act which carries the mandatory death penalty.

Another accused, Lam Chong Chooi, 55, who was originally charged with the three man, was acquitted by Judge Dr Badariah Sahamid as there was doubt in his (Lam's) role as sentry for the drug transaction.

In his defence, Lam, a coffeeshop worker, told the court he was at the hotel lobby to watch ice-skating and denied any knowledge of the three accused, and his presence in the room where the transaction happened.

She said the testimony from an agent provocateur who was in the room during the transaction with the three accused, was consistent.

In their defence, the three said they were gambling in the room and that there was another man nicknamed 'Specky', who was involved in the transaction, apart from the agent provocateur.

Nevertheless, Dr Badariah said, there was no detail provided on 'Specky', adding that there was no gambling paraphernalia like dice or bowl found in the room.

She said, while the three claimed there was a man whom they referred to as 'Mak', who came to the room to meet them, Mak's statement was doubtful because he could not give details of the room.

She said the trio failed in their defence and were found guilty of drug trafficking.

-- BERNAMA

Drug trafficking: Two escape death

By K.C. VIJAYAN

Two men were spared the gallows yesterday, after the high Court found them not guilty of capital drug trafficking charges. However, a third man, involved in the same case, was sentenced to death.

Both Tamil Selvan, 41, and M. Balasubramaniam, 30, had been jointly tried with Azman Sanwan, 38, who was found guilty for the same offence of trafficking in 1,525.7g of cannabis.

When Azman was sentenced to death, his wife, who was in court with their two young children and other relatives, broke down and had to be helped.

Both Tamil and Bala were remanded to face several other lesser charges that were initially stood down. Each was offered bail of $50,000.

All three men were nabbed by Central narcotics Bureau officers in a sting operation on April 30 2007 at a carpark in front of Block 108, Yishun Ring Road.

Azman was seen tranferring a blue paper bag from the back of a black Honda Civic to the boot of a blue Mitsubishi Lancer parked alongside. He was earlier seen carrying the same paper bag from the Lancer to the back of the Honda. When the officers moved in, they found a wrapped bundle containing two blocks of vegetable matter inside the paper bag. The vegetable blocks were found to contain cannabis.

Azman, defended by lawyer Sunil Sudheesan, admitted that he had brought in drugs a few times before but said that on those previous occasions, they were not big deliveries. He claimed not to know how the drugs got into his car.

Bala and Tamil were at the back of the Honda car trying to separate the exhaust pipe from the bumper, at the time of the incident, as it was seen to be emitting fumes and was out of position. Both, defended by lawyer Ramesh Tiwary, claimed they had no knowledge there was cannabis in either car.

In the grounds for his judgement, Justice Kan Ting Chiu said Azman did not offer any "consistent explanation" for the presence of the blue paper bag found in the boot of the car and there was an "abundance of evidence" against him.

Tamil, on the other hand was not accused of having handled the bundles containing the drugs. It was also not proved that Bala actually or presumably knew the bundles contained cannabis.

There was nothing to show that all three had a common intention to traffic in the drugs, added Justice Kan in the 54-page judgment, delivered a year after the hearings.

Source: The Straits Times, July 10 2010

Singapore: Disneyland with the Death Penalty

"Disneyland with the Death Penalty" is an article about Singapore written by William Gibson, his first major piece of non-fiction, first published as the cover story for Wired magazine's September/October 1993 issue (1.04).

The article follows Gibson's observations of the architecture, phenomenology and culture of Singapore, and the clean, bland and conformist impression the city-state conveys during his stay.

Its title and central metaphor—Singapore as Disneyland with the death penalty—is a reference to the authoritarian artifice the author perceives the city-state to be. Singapore, Gibson details, is lacking any sense of creativity or authenticity, absent of any indication of its history or underground culture.

He finds the government to be pervasive, corporatist and technocratic, and the judicial system rigid and draconian. Singaporeans are characterised as consumerists of insipid taste. The article is accentuated by local news reports of criminal trials by which the author illustrates his observations, and bracketed by contrasting descriptions of the South-East Asian airports he arrives and leaves by.
Though Gibson's first major piece of non-fiction, the article had an immediate and lasting impact. The Singaporean government banned Wired upon the publication of the issue, and the phrase "Disneyland with the death penalty" became a byword for bland authoritarianism that the city-state could not easily discard.

Read more:

Wiki: Disneyland with the Death Penalty

Original Wired article

The Death Penalty in Singapore: Case Files

• In 2005, Took Leng How, a Malaysian worker at the Pukit Panjang Wholesale Centre came under investigation when 8 year old Huang Na went missing. Took fled Singapore to Malaysia while under police custody. Under the advice of his father, who told him that Singapore laws will protect him if he did not murder Huang Na, Took returned to Singapore to give evidence on how he accidentally strangled Huang Na during a game of hide and seek. Despite no conclusive evidence that Took intentionally murdered Huang Na, he was sentenced to mandatory death. Days before his execution, Took was filled with rage and he told his family that he wanted wear a red suit during the execution, ostensibly under Chinese culture as a way to seek revenge, as he did not believe that he deserved to be hanged. His family pleaded with him to go in peace, and Took finally relented. (This is first hand account from Took Leng How's family) Took's case begs two questions to ponder about: Why would Took Leng How return to Singapore voluntarily to face near certain death sentence if he had really intentionally murdered Huang Na? Why would a person guilty of murder on the eve of his execution have so much hatred in him to seek revenge?

• The trial judge, before passing the death sentence on Yong Vui Kong, summoned the defence counsel and public prosecutor to chamber and asked the prosecution if they would consider reducing the charge given the relatively young age of the drug offender, who was not even 19 at the age of the offence. The prosecution declined and the death sentence was handed to Vui Kong.

• In 2002, Julia Suzanne Bohl, a 20 year old German girl was found with 687g of marijuana in her home in Singapore, 187g higher than the limit which carries the mandatory death sentence. Germany promptly intervened, and because of the politically sensitive nature of the case the charge was reduced to one of trafficking and she was sentenced to 5 years in prison. Eventually, Julia served only 2 years of her prison sentence and she was sent back to Germany. Does the State regard an Australian, Nigerian and Malaysian life as less important than that of a German's?

• The Central Narcotics Bureau routinely uses undercover detective to pose as buyers for drugs, such as in the case of Rozman bin Jusoh. During the trial it became evident that Rozman was intellectually handicapped, taking more than five minutes to answer a simple question like the number of siblings he had. His interpreter and psychologist both emphasized that Rozman was not simply faking it. The trial judge also pointed out that “It was…clear from the evidence that the CNB agent and the undercover CNB officer were more than mere agents, and had, in fact, undertaken a substantially active role in persuading [Rozman] to sell them drugs...". The judge then proceeded to sentence him a lesser sentence of 7 years imprisonment under a lesser charge for subnormal intellect. The prosecution appealed against the sentence, and the High Court eventually passed the death sentence on Rozman after considering that his subnormal intellect was not enough to negate his intention to traffick the drugs.

• Singapore has the highest per capita rate of execution in the world according to Amnesty International, a human rights based group which keeps track of human rights violation around the world. Majority of the executed were for drug offences.

sgdeathpenalty

Singaporean drug trafficker caught smuggling drugs into Australia