Public Prosecutor v Quek Loo Ming: Culpable Homicide and Poisoning Case

In Public Prosecutor v Quek Loo Ming, the High Court of Singapore sentenced Quek Loo Ming for culpable homicide not amounting to murder under section 304A of the Penal Code and for causing hurt under section 326 of the Penal Code. Quek Loo Ming, a retired forensic scientist, had mixed pesticide into a drink intending to cause diarrhoea to his Residents' Committee chairperson but instead caused the death of one person and injuries to two others. The court sentenced him to 9 years imprisonment for the first charge and 3 years imprisonment for the second charge, to run concurrently, considering mitigating factors such as his remorse and previous unblemished record.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

High Court

1.2 Outcome

The accused was sentenced to 9 years imprisonment for culpable homicide and 3 years imprisonment for poisoning, to run concurrently.

1.3 Case Type

Criminal

1.4 Judgment Type

Grounds of Decision

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Quek Loo Ming was sentenced for culpable homicide and poisoning after a pesticide-laced drink caused one death and two injuries. The court considered mitigating factors in sentencing.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
Public ProsecutorProsecutionGovernment AgencyAccused sentencedWon
Ong Hian Sun of Attorney-General’s Chambers
Jason Tan of Attorney-General’s Chambers
Quek Loo MingDefendantIndividualImprisonmentLost

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Choo Han TeckJudicial CommissionerYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Ong Hian SunAttorney-General’s Chambers
Jason TanAttorney-General’s Chambers
Anand NalachandranHarry Elias Partnership
Subhas AnandanHarry Elias Partnership

4. Facts

  1. The accused mixed methomyl into a bottle of mineral water.
  2. The accused intended to cause diarrhoea to Mdm Lam, the chairperson of his Residents' Committee.
  3. One Fong Ai Lin died after consuming the contaminated water.
  4. Two other persons were hospitalized after consuming the same pesticide.
  5. The accused pleaded guilty to charges under sections 304A and 326 of the Penal Code.
  6. The accused was a 56-year-old retired forensic scientist.

5. Formal Citations

  1. Public Prosecutor v Quek Loo Ming, CC 43/2002, [2002] SGHC 171

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Sentences of imprisonment to run with effect from this date
Decision Date

7. Legal Issues

  1. Culpable Homicide Not Amounting to Murder
    • Outcome: The accused was found guilty and sentenced to 9 years imprisonment.
    • Category: Substantive
  2. Causing Hurt by Poisonous Substance
    • Outcome: The accused was found guilty and sentenced to 3 years imprisonment, to run concurrently with the first charge.
    • Category: Substantive
  3. Mitigating Factors in Sentencing
    • Outcome: The court considered the accused's remorse, previous unblemished record, and the fact that the victims were not the intended targets when determining the sentence.
    • Category: Procedural

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Imprisonment

9. Cause of Actions

  • Culpable Homicide Not Amounting to Murder
  • Voluntarily Causing Hurt by Poisonous Substance

10. Practice Areas

  • Criminal Law

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
Penal Code section 304ASingapore
Penal Code section 326Singapore

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Methomyl
  • Culpable homicide
  • Poisoning
  • Residents' Committee
  • Mitigating factors
  • Sentencing

15.2 Keywords

  • culpable homicide
  • poisoning
  • methomyl
  • criminal law
  • sentencing
  • singapore

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Culpable Homicide95
Criminal Law90
Sentencing80
Forensic Science60

16. Subjects

  • Criminal Law
  • Toxicology
  • Sentencing