Public Prosecutor v Pang Siew Fum: Trafficking of Diamorphine
In Public Prosecutor v Pang Siew Fum and Cheong Chun Yin, the High Court of Singapore heard the case against Pang Siew Fum and Cheong Chun Yin, who were charged with trafficking diamorphine under the Misuse of Drugs Act. The prosecution argued that both accused knowingly participated in the trafficking of diamorphine found in a suitcase. The defendants claimed they were unaware of the drugs. The High Court found both accused guilty and sentenced them to death.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Both accused persons guilty and sentenced to suffer death.
1.3 Case Type
Criminal
1.4 Judgment Type
Judgment reserved
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Pang Siew Fum and Cheong Chun Yin were charged with trafficking diamorphine. The High Court found both accused guilty and sentenced them to death.
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 | Chua Ying-Hong of Deputy Public Prosecutors Leong Wing Tuck of Deputy Public Prosecutors David Low of Deputy Public Prosecutors |
| Cheong Chun Yin | Defendant | Individual | Convicted | Lost | |
| Pang Siew Fum | Defendant | Individual | Convicted | Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Choo Han Teck | J | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Chua Ying-Hong | Deputy Public Prosecutors |
| Leong Wing Tuck | Deputy Public Prosecutors |
| David Low | Deputy Public Prosecutors |
| Ramesh Tiwary | Ramesh Tiwary & Co |
| Adrian Chong | Low Yeap Toh & Goon |
| Lim Bee Li | KhattarWong |
| Irving Choh | KhattarWong |
| Subhas Anandan | KhattarWong |
4. Facts
- Pang Siew Fum and Cheong Chun Yin were arrested for drug trafficking.
- Cheong Chun Yin carried a suitcase containing 2,726g of diamorphine from Myanmar to Singapore.
- Pang Siew Fum received the suitcase from Cheong Chun Yin at Changi Airport.
- The suitcase contained diamorphine hidden in a false bottom.
- Two other suitcases containing a total of 5054g of diamorphine were found in Pang Siew Fum's flat.
5. Formal Citations
- Public Prosecutor v Pang Siew Fum and another, Criminal Case No 49 of 2009, [2010] SGHC 40
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Arrest of Pang Siew Fum and Cheong Chun Yin | |
| Judgment reserved |
7. Legal Issues
- Drug Trafficking
- Outcome: The court found both accused guilty of drug trafficking.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Conviction
- Death Penalty
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No cited cases | |||||
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Misuse of Drugs Act (Cap 185, 2008 Rev Ed) | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Diamorphine
- Drug Trafficking
- Suitcase
- False Bottom
15.2 Keywords
- Drug Trafficking
- Diamorphine
- Singapore
- Criminal Law
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Misuse of Drugs Act | 95 |
| Criminal Law | 95 |
| Drug Trafficking | 90 |
| Offences | 80 |
| Evidence | 60 |
| Sentencing | 60 |
| Criminal Procedure | 50 |
16. Subjects
- Criminal Law
- Drug Offences