PP v Mohd Jeefrey: Trafficking Diamorphine - Misuse of Drugs Act

In Public Prosecutor v Mohd Jeefrey bin Jamil, the High Court of Singapore convicted Mohd Jeefrey bin Jamil of trafficking in diamorphine under the Misuse of Drugs Act. The court, presided over by Justice Tay Yong Kwang, found that the accused was aware he was carrying illegal drugs and rejected his defense of lack of knowledge. As the requirements for alternative sentencing were not met, the court imposed the mandatory death penalty on 28 November 2014.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

High Court

1.2 Outcome

Death sentence pronounced on the accused.

1.3 Case Type

Criminal

1.4 Judgment Type

Grounds of Decision

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Mohd Jeefrey was convicted of trafficking diamorphine under the Misuse of Drugs Act. The court rejected his defense of lack of knowledge and imposed the death penalty.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
Public ProsecutorProsecutionGovernment AgencyJudgment for ProsecutionWon
Eugene Lee of Attorney-General’s Chambers
Michelle Koh of Attorney-General’s Chambers
Mohd Jeefrey bin JamilDefendantIndividualDeath SentenceLost

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Tay Yong KwangJudgeYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Eugene LeeAttorney-General’s Chambers
Michelle KohAttorney-General’s Chambers
Mohamed BairossI.R.B Law LLP
Johan IsmailJohan Ismail & Co

4. Facts

  1. Accused was arrested with ten packets containing not less than 45.26 grams of diamorphine.
  2. Accused admitted to carrying illegal things and waiting for someone to pick them up.
  3. Accused made multiple deliveries for Boy and was paid with heroin or money.
  4. Accused claimed he did not know the bundles contained controlled drugs.
  5. Accused did not check the contents of the bundles.
  6. Accused's urine samples contained morphine and methamphetamine.
  7. Accused stated he would have delivered the packages even if he knew they contained controlled drugs.

5. Formal Citations

  1. Public Prosecutor v Mohd Jeefrey bin Jamil, Criminal Case No 31 of 2014, [2014] SGHC 255

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Accused was born
Accused arrested for drug trafficking
Accused admitted into prison's medical centre
Accused discharged from prison's medical centre
First long statement recorded from accused
Fourth long statement recorded from accused
Judgment issued

7. Legal Issues

  1. Trafficking in Diamorphine
    • Outcome: The court found the accused guilty of trafficking in diamorphine.
    • Category: Substantive
  2. Lack of Knowledge
    • Outcome: The court rejected the accused's defense of lack of knowledge.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Related Cases:
      • [2011] 4 SLR 1156
  3. Wilful Blindness
    • Outcome: The court found that the accused was guilty of wilful blindness.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Related Cases:
      • [2011] 4 SLR 1156

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Conviction
  2. Death Penalty

9. Cause of Actions

  • Trafficking in Diamorphine

10. Practice Areas

  • Criminal Litigation

11. Industries

  • No industries specified

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
Nagaenthran a/l K Dharmalingam v Public ProsecutorHigh CourtYes[2011] 4 SLR 1156SingaporeCited for the meaning of wilful blindness.

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
Misuse of Drugs Act (Cap 185, 2008 Rev Ed)Singapore
s 5(1)(a) read with s 5(2) of the Misuse of Drugs Act (Cap 185, 2008 Rev Ed)Singapore
s 33 of the Misuse of Drugs Act (Cap. 185, 2012 Rev. Ed)Singapore
s 33B of the Misuse of Drugs Act (Cap. 185, 2012 Rev. Ed)Singapore
s 18(2) of the Misuse of Drugs ActSingapore

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Diamorphine
  • Trafficking
  • Misuse of Drugs Act
  • Courier
  • Wilful Blindness
  • Lack of Knowledge

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 Law70
Criminal Procedure60
Evidence50

16. Subjects

  • Criminal Law
  • Drug Offences