PP v Sharom bin Ahmad: Trafficking Diamorphine & Criminal Conspiracy

In Public Prosecutor v Sharom bin Ahmad and Boksenang bin Bochek, the High Court of Singapore addressed charges against Sharom and Boksenang for conspiracy to traffic diamorphine. Sharom was found with 60.17 grams of diamorphine, and Boksenang was accused of selling 59.94 grams of diamorphine to Sharom. The court, presided over by Justice Kan Ting Chiu, amended the charges to separate trafficking offenses. Ultimately, the court found both accused guilty on the amended charges and convicted them, imposing the mandatory death sentence.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

High Court

1.2 Outcome

Accused guilty on the amended charges and convicted, and imposed the mandatory death sentence.

1.3 Case Type

Criminal

1.4 Judgment Type

Grounds of Decision

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Sharom bin Ahmad and Boksenang bin Bochek were charged with conspiracy to traffic diamorphine. The court amended the charges to separate trafficking offenses and convicted both, imposing the mandatory death sentence.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
Public ProsecutorProsecutionGovernment AgencyGuilty verdictWon
Mathavan Devadas of Public Prosecutor
Ferlin Jayatissa of Public Prosecutor
Edwin Loo of Public Prosecutor
Sharom bin AhmadDefendantIndividualGuilty verdictLost
Boksenang bin BochekDefendantIndividualGuilty verdictLost

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Kan Ting ChiuJudgeYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Mathavan DevadasPublic Prosecutor
Ferlin JayatissaPublic Prosecutor
Edwin LooPublic Prosecutor
S S DhillonDhillon Dendroff & Partners
Sarbrinder SinghYong Koh & Partners
Peter FernandoLeo Fernando
Yeo Chee TeckAng Jeffrey & Partners

4. Facts

  1. Sharom and Norsila were arrested at a car park along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10.
  2. A key chain with keys was recovered from Sharom.
  3. A Marlboro cigarette box containing a sachet of suspected heroin was found on Sharom.
  4. Officers searched a flat at Ang Mo Kio and recovered items suspected to contain drugs.
  5. Sharom admitted the haversack was his but denied ownership of the drugs inside.
  6. Boksenang was arrested later and made statements regarding drug transactions.
  7. The drugs recovered were analyzed and found to contain diamorphine.

5. Formal Citations

  1. Public Prosecutor v Sharom bin Ahmad and Another, CC 2/2000, [2000] SGHC 59

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Sharom and Norsila arrested at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 car park.
Drugs recovered from Sharom and Ang Mo Kio flat.
Sharom made a cautioned statement.
Investigation statement recorded from Sharom.
Investigation statement recorded from Sharom.
Investigation statement recorded from Sharom.
Boksenang arrested.
Cautioned statement recorded from Boksenang.
Investigation statement recorded from Boksenang.
Investigation statement recorded from Boksenang.
Statement recorded from Boksenang.
Judgment Date

7. Legal Issues

  1. Drug Trafficking
    • Outcome: The court found both accused guilty of drug trafficking.
    • Category: Substantive
  2. Criminal Conspiracy
    • Outcome: The court did not find sufficient evidence to support the charge of criminal conspiracy and amended the charges to separate trafficking offenses.
    • Category: Substantive

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Conviction
  2. Imprisonment
  3. Death Penalty

9. Cause of Actions

  • Drug Trafficking
  • Criminal Conspiracy

10. Practice Areas

  • Criminal Law
  • Drug Offences

11. Industries

  • No industries specified

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
No cited cases

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
Misuse of Drugs Act Chapter 185Singapore
Penal CodeSingapore

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Diamorphine
  • Trafficking
  • Haversack
  • Criminal Conspiracy
  • Ang Mo Kio flat
  • Jelapang Road flat

15.2 Keywords

  • Drug Trafficking
  • Diamorphine
  • Criminal Conspiracy
  • Singapore
  • High Court

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Misuse of Drugs Act95
Criminal Law90
Criminal conspiracy70
Evidence Law60
Criminal Procedure60

16. Subjects

  • Criminal Law
  • Drug Offences
  • Conspiracy