PP v Raman Selvam: Trafficking, Possession of Cannabis & Misuse of Drugs Act
In Public Prosecutor v Raman Selvam s/o Renganathan, the High Court of Singapore convicted Raman Selvam of trafficking in cannabis under section 5(1)(a) read with section 5(2) of the Misuse of Drugs Act, Chapter 185 and section 34 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224. The court found that Raman Selvam had possession of the drugs for the purpose of trafficking, based on evidence that he rented a room where the drugs were found and that he had an agreement with an accomplice, Dhanabalan s/o A Gopalkrishnan, to cut and pack the cannabis for distribution. The court imposed the mandatory death sentence due to the quantity of cannabis exceeding 500 grams.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Convicted and sentenced to suffer death.
1.3 Case Type
Criminal
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Raman Selvam was convicted of trafficking cannabis under the Misuse of Drugs Act, based on drugs found in a room rented under his accomplice's name.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Prosecutor | Prosecution | Government Agency | Judgment for Prosecution | Won | Derek Kang of Attorney-General’s Chambers G Kannan of Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Raman Selvam s/o Renganathan | Defendant | Individual | Convicted | Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Tay Yong Kwang | Judge | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Derek Kang | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| G Kannan | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
4. Facts
- Accused and Dhanabalan were suspected of trafficking cannabis.
- Accused operated a flower shop, and Dhanabalan ran a food stall.
- A large quantity of cannabis was stored in a flat in Block 52.
- Accused was arrested in his flat after a struggle.
- Keys seized from Dhanabalan unlocked the padlock and main door of the flat where the cannabis was found.
- Packets of cannabis were found in the rented room.
- Accused paid the rent for the room where the cannabis was found.
5. Formal Citations
- Public Prosecutor v Raman Selvam s/o Renganathan, CC 33/2003, [2003] SGHC 210
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Accused and his wife started the flower shop at Block 61. | |
| The room was rented to a couple and their child from India. | |
| One of the bedrooms was rented to a couple from India. | |
| Accused informed Indra that someone had offered $300 per month for one of the rooms in her flat. | |
| Indra handed the accused the keys to the main door and the padlock. | |
| Balu's food stall commenced business. | |
| Balu was stabbed by a Chinese man at his food stall. | |
| Accused and Dhanabalan trafficked in cannabis. | |
| Accused was arrested in his flat. | |
| Balu was arrested at the coffee shop in Block 54. | |
| Decision Date |
7. Legal Issues
- Presumption of Trafficking
- Outcome: The court found that the presumption of trafficking applied because the accused had possession, custody, or control of the keys to the premises and relevant room where the drugs were found.
- Category: Substantive
- Possession of Drugs for Purpose of Trafficking
- Outcome: The court determined that the accused was in possession of the drugs for the purpose of trafficking, based on the quantity of drugs, the cutting and packing paraphernalia, and the agreement with the accomplice.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Conviction
- Mandatory Death Sentence
9. Cause of Actions
- Drug Trafficking
10. Practice Areas
- Criminal Litigation
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evidence Act | N/A | Yes | s 116 Illustration (b) Evidence Act | Singapore | Cited to support the principle that the court may presume that an accomplice is unworthy of credit and his evidence needs to be treated with caution. |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Misuse of Drugs Act (Cap 185, 1997 Ed) ss 5 | Singapore |
| Misuse of Drugs Act (Cap 185, 1997 Ed) ss 17 | Singapore |
| Misuse of Drugs Act (Cap 185, 1997 Ed) ss 18(1)(c) | Singapore |
| Misuse of Drugs Act (Cap 185, 1997 Ed) ss 18(2) | Singapore |
| Misuse of Drugs Act (Cap 185, 1997 Ed) ss 33(1) | Singapore |
| Penal Code, Chapter 224 | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Cannabis
- Trafficking
- Possession
- Accomplice
- Rented Room
- Keys
- Misuse of Drugs Act
15.2 Keywords
- Cannabis
- Drug Trafficking
- Misuse of Drugs Act
- Singapore
- Criminal Law
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Misuse of Drugs Act | 95 |
| Criminal Law | 60 |
| Evidence Law | 50 |
| Contract Law | 10 |
16. Subjects
- Criminal Law
- Drug Offences