Yuen Ye Ming, the UK-born DJ, was recently arrested and jailed for drug offences in Singapore.

His case caused quite a stir in his home country after an interview appeared in British tabloid The Daily Mail about his experiences in Changi Prison -- as well as the severity of the punishments meted out.

Yuen was arrested for various drug-related offences -- ones that are considered minor in the UK -- and was sentenced to 20 years' in jail and 24 strokes of the cane in Singapore.

In the Daily Mail interview on Jan. 11, Yuen claimed that guards knocked on his door to administer the caning in December 2018, only to turn away when he exclaimed that this was against his human rights.

The report also quoted his sister and family, who said that his treatment was "barbaric" and "mentally torturous."

Daily Mail journalist did not seek approval for interview

According to Channel NewsAsia, who queried the Singapore Prison Service (SPS), it was journalist Stephen Wright who conducted the interview for The Daily Mail.

It took place at the Prison Link Centre in Geylang Bahru, via video-link.

According to the SPS on Jan. 23, Yuen's uncle registered Wright to accompany him as a family friend.

In normal practice, such visits by non-family members may be allowed, if the visitor accompanies registered members of the family.

However, Wright had not sought permission from the SPS to speak to Yuen in his capacity as a journalist.

The SPS said: "SPS does not allow interviews to be conducted with prison inmates without prior approval. Wright had undertaken the tele-visit under false pretences."

Due to this infringement, the SPS has barred Wright from making further visits.

Case was raised by UK Foreign Secretary

Yuen was arrested in August 2016 for seven drug-related offences.

These included two counts of repeated drug trafficking, one of 69g and another of 60g of cannabis, and another count of trafficking 15g of crystal meth.

UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt raised Yuen's case with Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan during his visit to Singapore on Jan. 4 and 5.

A spokesperson confirmed that consular staff are assisting a British man and his family since his arrest in 2016, and that they opposed the use of corporal punishment.

The Daily Mail interview had also quoted Singapore's High Commissioner to the UK, who said that Singapore imposes the "severest of penalties" for drug offences to protect the public's welfare.

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Top image adapted from the Daily Mail's Facebook page and @ming_sg's Instagram page