Public Prosecutor v Jimmy Goh: Trafficking of Heroin and Controlled Drugs
In Public Prosecutor v Jimmy Goh Chye Soon, the High Court of Singapore found Jimmy Goh Chye Soon guilty of trafficking 81.73g of heroin. The court rejected Goh's defense that the heroin belonged to another person and sentenced him to death.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Guilty as charged; sentenced to suffer death.
1.3 Case Type
Criminal
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Jimmy Goh was found guilty of trafficking 81.73g of heroin. The court rejected his defense and sentenced him to death.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Prosecutor | Prosecution | Government Agency | Guilty as charged | Won | Thong Chee Kun of Attorney-General’s Chambers Jaswant Singh of Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Jimmy Goh Chye Soon | Defendant | Individual | Guilty as charged | Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Choo Han Teck | Judicial Commissioner | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Thong Chee Kun | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Jaswant Singh | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Ong Cheong Wei | Ong Cheong Wei & Co |
| Tan Teow Yeow | Tan Teow Yeow & Co |
4. Facts
- Accused was arrested with a sachet of brown substance suspected to be heroin.
- A search of the accused's flat revealed various controlled drugs.
- The accused confessed to owning the drugs, stating the heroin was for sale.
- The accused later claimed he had no knowledge of the heroin in his wardrobe.
- The accused alleged that 'Ah Seng' placed the heroin in his wardrobe.
- The court rejected the accused's explanation and found him guilty.
5. Formal Citations
- Public Prosecutor v Jimmy Goh Chye Soon, CC 74/2000, [2000] SGHC 278
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Flat rented by the accused from Teo Hong Tin. | |
| Accused arrested by the police. | |
| Accused handed over to the Central Narcotics Bureau. | |
| Search of accused's flat conducted by CNB officers. | |
| Judgment Date |
7. Legal Issues
- Trafficking of Heroin
- Outcome: The court found the defendant guilty of trafficking heroin.
- Category: Substantive
- Voluntariness of Confession
- Outcome: The court found that the confession was made without any threat, inducement or promise.
- Category: Procedural
8. Remedies Sought
- Conviction
- Death Penalty
9. Cause of Actions
- Drug Trafficking
- Possession of Controlled Drugs
10. Practice Areas
- Criminal Litigation
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No cited cases | |||||
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| No applicable statutes | |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Heroin
- Controlled Drugs
- Trafficking
- Confession
- Wardrobe
- Ah Seng
15.2 Keywords
- Drug Trafficking
- Heroin
- Singapore
- Criminal Law
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Misuse of Drugs Act | 95 |
| Criminal Law | 90 |
| Evidence Law | 60 |
16. Subjects
- Criminal Law
- Drug Offences