S'pore private-hire driver, 48, takes meth to stay awake while working, gets 6 years' jail & caning

A 48-year-old man in Singapore was sentenced to six years' jail and five strokes of the cane on Mar. 12 after he took drugs to stay awake during work.

According to The Straits Times, Lim Heong Sheng, who worked as a private-hire driver, also sold methamphetamine for up to S$380 for 5g.

Several drugs found in car

Lim started selling the drug, which he obtained from a supplier in Malaysia, in April 2024 following his retrenchment as a technician.

He charged customers between S$300 and S$380 for 5g of methamphetamine, while regular customers were offered the same amount for S$150.

To avoid exposing his family to the drugs, Lim kept the stash in his car.

Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) officers arrested him on Jan. 16, 2025 at his Jurong West home after receiving a tip-off about his drug-related activities.

Officers found several packets of methamphetamine and cannabis in his car.

He said the cannabis was meant for his own consumption, but also claimed he had stopped using it.

He later tested positive for methamphetamine.

Pleaded guilty

Deputy Public Prosecutor Gurmesh Singh sought a sentence of six years' jail and up to six strokes of the cane.

This was based on the minimum penalty for drug trafficking of five years' jail and five strokes of the cane.

Singh added that the minimum punishment for drug consumption is one year's jail.

Lim's lawyer argued that he was the sole breadwinner of his family, and had taken the drug to help him stay awake while working.

He later pleaded guilty to one charge each of drug consumption, drug trafficking and drug possession.

Five other charges were taken into consideration during sentencing, including two counts of possessing drug-laced vapes.

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