PP v Lim Choo Song: Importation of Diamorphine under the Misuse of Drugs Act

In Public Prosecutor v Lim Choo Song, the High Court of Singapore convicted Lim Choo Song of importing diamorphine into Singapore, an offense under the Misuse of Drugs Act. The prosecution presented evidence, including the accused's statements, showing that Lim Choo Song knowingly transported drugs into Singapore. The court found the prosecution's case proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and sentenced Lim Choo Song to death.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

High Court

1.2 Outcome

Accused convicted and sentenced to death

1.3 Case Type

Criminal

1.4 Judgment Type

Grounds of Decision

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Lim Choo Song was convicted of importing diamorphine into Singapore under the Misuse of Drugs Act and sentenced to death. The court found the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
Public ProsecutorProsecutionGovernment AgencyJudgment for ProsecutionWon
Chan Wang Ho of Independent Practitioner
Lim Choo SongDefendantIndividualAccused convicted and sentenced to deathLost
Chia Boon Teck of Independent Practitioner
Tan Teow Yeow of Independent Practitioner

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Woo Bih LiJudicial CommissionerYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Chan Wang HoIndependent Practitioner
Chia Boon TeckIndependent Practitioner
Tan Teow YeowIndependent Practitioner

4. Facts

  1. The accused was charged with importing diamorphine into Singapore.
  2. The accused's car was stopped at Woodlands Checkpoint.
  3. Drugs were found in the arm-rest compartment of the rear seat of the car.
  4. The drugs contained not less than 23.43g of diamorphine.
  5. The accused made statements to the police regarding the drugs.
  6. The accused claimed he was asked by 'Ah Meng' to bring the drugs into Singapore.
  7. The accused was promised 1000 ringgit for the effort.

5. Formal Citations

  1. Public Prosecutor v Lim Choo Song, CC No 62 of 2001, [2001] SGHC 366

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Accused imported drugs into Singapore
Accused's car stopped at Woodlands Checkpoint
Drugs discovered in accused's car
Accused arrested
Accused's third statement recorded
Accused's fourth statement recorded
Judgment issued

7. Legal Issues

  1. Importation of Controlled Drugs
    • Outcome: The court found the accused guilty of importing a controlled drug.
    • Category: Substantive
  2. Admissibility of Statements
    • Outcome: The court admitted the accused's statements as evidence.
    • Category: Procedural
  3. Identification of the Accused
    • Outcome: The court found sufficient evidence to identify the accused as the person arrested.
    • Category: Procedural

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Conviction
  2. Death penalty

9. Cause of Actions

  • Importation of a controlled drug

10. Practice Areas

  • Criminal Litigation

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, Cap 185Singapore
Misuse of Drugs Act, Cap 185, s 7Singapore

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Diamorphine
  • Importation
  • Controlled drug
  • Woodlands Checkpoint
  • Misuse of Drugs Act
  • Statements
  • Ah Meng
  • Tok Pin
  • Bae Hoon

15.2 Keywords

  • Drugs
  • Importation
  • Singapore
  • Criminal
  • Diamorphine

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Misuse of Drugs Act95
Importation of controlled drugs90
Drug Crimes90
Drug Trafficking80
Criminal Law60
Criminal Procedure50
Offences40
Criminal Revision30
Penal Code30
Consent of Public Prosecutor20
Public Prosecutor20
Hearsay10
Joinder of Parties5
Discovery Obligations5
Breach of Court Order5

16. Subjects

  • Criminal Law
  • Drug Trafficking