Public Prosecutor v Tan Kheng Chun Ray: Drug Offences - Importing Diamorphine & Methamphetamine
In Public Prosecutor v Tan Kheng Chun Ray, the High Court of Singapore sentenced Ray Tan Kheng Chun on August 4, 2011, after he pleaded guilty to seven drug offenses under the Misuse of Drugs Act, including importing diamorphine and methamphetamine. The court sentenced him to 27 years' imprisonment and 20 strokes of the cane, ordering the sentences for the importation offenses to run consecutively.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Accused sentenced to 27 years’ imprisonment and 20 strokes of the cane.
1.3 Case Type
Criminal
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Ray Tan Kheng Chun pleaded guilty to drug offenses, including importing diamorphine and methamphetamine. The High Court sentenced him to 27 years' imprisonment and 20 strokes of the cane.
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 | |
| Tan Kheng Chun Ray | Defendant | Individual | Conviction and Sentencing | Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Kan Ting Chiu | Judge | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Gordon Oh | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Peggy Pao | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Sunil Sudheesan | KhattarWong |
| Subhas Anandan | KhattarWong |
4. Facts
- The accused pleaded guilty to seven charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
- The accused imported not less than 14.99 grams of diamorphine.
- The accused imported not less than 1.12 grams of methamphetamine.
- The accused consumed methamphetamine.
- The accused possessed utensils intended for the consumption of controlled drugs.
- The accused possessed three tablets of nimetazepam.
- The accused cooperated with authorities after his arrest.
5. Formal Citations
- Public Prosecutor v Tan Kheng Chun Ray, Criminal Case No 6 of 2011, [2011] SGHC 183
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Accused committed drug offences at Woodlands Checkpoint. | |
| Utensils and nimetazepam recovered from accused’s residence. | |
| Urine sample of accused taken. | |
| Judgment issued by the High Court. | |
| Appeal allowed by the Court of Appeal. |
7. Legal Issues
- Drug Importation
- Outcome: The court found the accused guilty of importing diamorphine and methamphetamine.
- Category: Substantive
- Sentencing for Drug Offences
- Outcome: The court considered the 'one transaction rule', the totality principle, and the proportionality principle in determining the appropriate sentence.
- Category: Procedural
- Related Cases:
- [1991] 2 SLR(R) 874
- [2009] 3 SLR(R) 414
8. Remedies Sought
- Imprisonment
- Caning
9. Cause of Actions
- Importing Diamorphine
- Importing Methamphetamine
- Consumption of Methamphetamine
- Possession of Utensils for Drug Consumption
- Possession of Nimetazepam
10. Practice Areas
- Criminal Litigation
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kanagasuntharam v Public Prosecutor | Unknown | Yes | [1991] 2 SLR(R) 874 | Singapore | Cited for the 'one transaction rule' in sentencing. |
| Jeffery bin Abdullah v Public Prosecutor | Unknown | Yes | [2009] 3 SLR(R) 414 | Singapore | Cited for the totality principle in sentencing. |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Misuse of Drugs Act (Cap 185 2008 Rev Ed) | Singapore |
| Criminal Procedure Code 2010 (No 15 of 2010) | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Diamorphine
- Methamphetamine
- Misuse of Drugs Act
- Woodlands Checkpoint
- One transaction rule
- Totality principle
- Proportionality principle
15.2 Keywords
- drug offences
- diamorphine
- methamphetamine
- importation
- sentencing
- Singapore
- criminal law
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Misuse of Drugs Act | 95 |
| Drug Crimes | 90 |
| Criminal Law | 80 |
| Sentencing | 70 |
| Criminal Procedure | 60 |
| Evidence | 50 |
16. Subjects
- Criminal Law
- Drug Trafficking
- Sentencing