SINGAPORE – A man named Edmund Zachary Ong Wei Min hosted a house party for 36 people where various drugs, including Ecstasy, were shared amidst COVID-19 restrictions in March 2022 has been sentenced to jail for two years and one week.
On June 18, 33-year-old Ong was officially sentenced to jail after pleading guilty in May to three charges including ketamine consumption, for which he was jailed for one year. This is the minimum sentence for the offence. He also received two years’ jail for allowing the unit to be used for drug consumption, and one week’s jail for breaching Covid-19 restrictions.
Two other drug consumption charges were considered by the court during the sentencing process, possibly influencing the severity of the overall punishment.
“Deterrence was the predominant consideration in sentencing Ong”, District Judge Crystal Tan said.
She mentioned that the level of severity warranted a jail sentence, but highlighted that Ong had no previous criminal history and had admitted guilt.
Offence Committed By Ong
Ong co-hosted the birthday party Sern at a unit with Jonathan Goh Wai at The Springs condominium in Moulmein Rise.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Quek Lu Yi told the court at the hearing that He had been renting a room there from Goh.
The 35-year-old Goh, a Malaysian, was previously reported to be on the flee, with a warrant of arrest issued against him.
The pair hosted a party at around 7 pm on March 26, 2022, for Tan Chun Yeow with 34 guests turning up. They all ate, danced, sang karaoke, and consumed alcohol and drugs at the party.
“The accused admitted that there were a few cups of red wine mixed with crushed tablets of Ecstasy… which were being passed around and consumed by the attendees. There were also tablets of Ecstasy being consumed. He knew that others at the party were consuming drugs, including Ecstasy, and allowed this to continue.” said DPP Quek.
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Legal Proceeding With The Court
Over 6kg of drugs worth $313k seized in Sentosa hotel room, Shenton Way residence. Police officers arrived at the unit to arrest Ong, Goh and the 34 guests around 6am on March 27th.
Ong’s urine samples were later tested to contain traces of ketamine, Ecstasy, and gamma-hydroxybutyrate, also known as GHB.The court heard that traces of Ecstasy were found in the urine samples of Tan and 21 guests.
Due to this on June 18, a Central Narcotics Bureau spokesperson said that everyone who was arrested for suspected drug abuse have been addressed or handled accordingly.
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