Public Prosecutor v Steven Ang: Trafficking Diamorphine - Misuse of Drugs Act

In Public Prosecutor v Steven Ang Keng Leong, Bala Murugan A/L Krishnan, and Lim Boon Kiat, the High Court of Singapore convicted all three defendants on charges related to drug trafficking under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Steven Ang was found guilty of possessing diamorphine for the purpose of trafficking. Bala Murugan was convicted of abetting the commission of the offence of trafficking in the said drugs. Lim Boon Kiat was found guilty of abetting Steven Ang to traffic in diamorphine. The court sentenced all three accused persons to the mandatory death sentence.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

High Court

1.2 Outcome

Guilty as charged

1.3 Case Type

Criminal

1.4 Judgment Type

Grounds of Decision

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Steven Ang, Bala Murugan, and Lim Boon Kiat were convicted of drug trafficking under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Ang possessed diamorphine, Murugan abetted the trafficking, and Kiat aided Ang.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
Public ProsecutorProsecutionGovernment AgencyJudgment for ProsecutionWon
Amarjit Singh of Attorney-General’s Chambers
Imran Hamid of Attorney-General’s Chambers
Lee Jwee Nguan of Attorney-General’s Chambers
Bala Murugan a/l KrishnanDefendantIndividualGuilty as chargedLost
Lim Boon KiatDefendantIndividualGuilty as chargedLost
Steven Ang Keng LeongDefendantIndividualGuilty as chargedLost

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Tay Yong KwangJudicial CommissionerYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Amarjit SinghAttorney-General’s Chambers
Imran HamidAttorney-General’s Chambers
Lee Jwee NguanAttorney-General’s Chambers
Billy LowBilly & Alsree
Allagarasamy PPereria & Tan
Lawrence WongLawrence Wong & Co
Patrick ChowPatrick Chow & Associates

4. Facts

  1. Steven Ang possessed 37.08 grams of diamorphine.
  2. Bala Murugan provided 37.08 grams of diamorphine to Steven Ang.
  3. Lim Boon Kiat drove Steven Ang to Yishun.
  4. Steven Ang admitted the drugs found in his flat belonged to him.
  5. Lim Boon Kiat admitted to being a drug addict.
  6. Bala Murugan claimed he was asked by a friend to deliver the haversack.

5. Formal Citations

  1. Public Prosecutor v Steven Ang Keng Leong and Others, CC 6/2002, [2002] SGHC 57

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Steven Ang Keng Leong possessed 37.08 grams of diamorphine.
Bala Murugan A/L Krishnan provided 37.08 grams of diamorphine to Steven Ang Keng Leong.
Lim Boon Kiat aided Steven Ang Keng Leong in conveying him to Yishun.
CNB officers conducted surveillance on Steven Ang Keng Leong.
Bala Murugan A/L Krishnan was arrested by CNB officers.
Steven Ang Keng Leong and Lim Boon Kiat were arrested by CNB officers.
ASP Toh Soon Teck recorded a statement from Steven Ang Keng Leong.
Steven Ang Keng Leong gave a long statement.
Lim Boon Kiat gave a long statement.
Steven Ang Keng Leong continued with his statement.
Bala Murugan A/L Krishnan made a further statement.
Bala Murugan A/L Krishnan made yet another statement.
Steven Ang Keng Leong gave a further statement.
Lim Boon Kiat gave a further statement.
Preliminary inquiry held.
Decision Date.

7. Legal Issues

  1. Drug Trafficking
    • Outcome: The court found all three defendants guilty of drug trafficking offenses.
    • Category: Substantive
  2. Abetment
    • Outcome: The court found Bala Murugan and Lim Boon Kiat guilty of abetting the drug trafficking offense.
    • Category: Substantive
  3. Conspiracy
    • Outcome: The court found Bala Murugan guilty of conspiracy to traffic drugs.
    • Category: Substantive

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Conviction
  2. Mandatory Death Sentence

9. Cause of Actions

  • Drug Trafficking
  • Abetment
  • Conspiracy

10. Practice Areas

  • Criminal Litigation

11. Industries

  • No industries specified

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
Tan Siew Chay & Ors v PPCourt of Criminal AppealYes[1993] 2 SLR 14SingaporeCited for the explanation of active complicity.
Lai Kam Loy & Ors v PPN/AYes[1994] 1 SLR 787SingaporeCited for the principle that direct evidence of a conspiracy would rarely be available.

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
Misuse of Drugs Act, Chapter 185, section 5(1)(a)Singapore
Misuse of Drugs Act, Chapter 185, section 5(2)Singapore
Misuse of Drugs Act, Chapter 185, section 12Singapore
Misuse of Drugs Act, Chapter 185, section 33Singapore
Criminal Procedure Code section 122 (6)Singapore

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Diamorphine
  • Drug Trafficking
  • Abetment
  • Conspiracy
  • CNB
  • Haversack
  • Sachets
  • Liap

15.2 Keywords

  • Drug Trafficking
  • Diamorphine
  • Singapore
  • Misuse of Drugs Act
  • Criminal Law

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Misuse of Drugs Act95
Criminal Law60
Criminal Procedure50
Offences40

16. Subjects

  • Criminal Law
  • Drug Offences