Public Prosecutor v Yap Siew Luan: Drug Importation - Methamphetamine
In Public Prosecutor v Yap Siew Luan, the High Court of Singapore heard the case against Yap Siew Luan, who pleaded guilty to importing not less than 249.9 grammes of methamphetamine into Singapore on October 29, 2001. The court, presided over by Judicial Commissioner Tay Yong Kwang, sentenced Yap Siew Luan to 24 years' imprisonment, taking into account the quantity of drugs involved, her lack of prior convictions, and her cooperation with authorities.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Accused sentenced to 24 years imprisonment.
1.3 Case Type
Criminal
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Yap Siew Luan pleaded guilty to importing methamphetamine into Singapore. The High Court sentenced her to 24 years' imprisonment, considering the quantity of drugs and her cooperation.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Prosecutor | Prosecution | Government Agency | Judgment for the Prosecution | Won | Christopher Ong of Attorney-General’s Chambers Jason Tan of Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Yap Siew Luan | Defendant | Individual | Accused sentenced to 24 years imprisonment | Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Tay Yong Kwang | Judicial Commissioner | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Christopher Ong | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Jason Tan | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Chua Eng Hui | Infinitus Law Corporation |
| Yap Sze Hon | Low Yeap Toh & Goon |
4. Facts
- Yap Siew Luan imported not less than 249.9 grammes of methamphetamine into Singapore.
- Yap Siew Luan was caught at Woodlands Checkpoint.
- Yap Siew Luan claimed she was asked to transport the drugs by 'Alice'.
- Yap Siew Luan pleaded guilty to the amended charge.
- Yap Siew Luan had no prior convictions.
- Yap Siew Luan cooperated with the CNB in its investigations.
5. Formal Citations
- Public Prosecutor v Yap Siew Luan, CC 24/2002, [2002] SGHC 93
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Yap Siew Luan imported methamphetamine into Singapore at Woodlands Checkpoint. | |
| Yap Siew Luan was arrested. | |
| Judgment was delivered. |
7. Legal Issues
- Importation of Controlled Drugs
- Outcome: The court found the accused guilty of importing a controlled drug.
- Category: Substantive
- Sentencing for Drug Offences
- Outcome: The court sentenced the accused to 24 years imprisonment.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Imprisonment
9. Cause of Actions
- Importation of a Controlled Drug
10. Practice Areas
- Criminal Litigation
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ooi Joo Keong v PP | Unknown | Yes | [1997] 2 SLR 68 | Singapore | Cited to support the classification of methamphetamine as a Class A drug. |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Misuse of Drugs Act, Chapter 185, section 7 | Singapore |
| Misuse of Drugs Act, Chapter 185, section 33 | Singapore |
| Criminal Procedure Code section 231(a) | Singapore |
| Interpretation Act section 2 (1) | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Methamphetamine
- Importation
- Controlled Drug
- Woodlands Checkpoint
- Misuse of Drugs Act
15.2 Keywords
- Drug Importation
- Methamphetamine
- Singapore
- Criminal Law
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Misuse of Drugs Act | 95 |
| Criminal Law | 60 |
| Criminal Procedure | 50 |
16. Subjects
- Criminal Law
- Drug Offences