Man sent to conduct surveillance on S$6 million vape stash gets caught red-handed by HSA
However, the Malaysian was spotted by HSA officers who asked him why he was there. The officers later found drugs in his vehicle.
The failed scout then contacted his hirer when he was released on bail and hid in a lorry back to Malaysia, but he was later nabbed and sent back to Singapore for the charges against him.
Chee Wai Yuen, 36, was sentenced on Monday (Jul 7) to jail for one year, one month and six weeks.
He pleaded guilty to five charges including drug charges, obstructing justice by conducting surveillance and an immigration offence for leaving Singapore without presenting his passport. Another four charges were taken into consideration.
The court heard that Chee was enlisted by Chua Wee Ming around Mar 20 last year to conduct surveillance.
Chua, who is also Malaysian, had allegedly imported e-vaporisers and components into Singapore for the purpose of sale.
The goods had been seized by HSA and were held in custody by the agency at a warehouse, whose location was protected by a gag order imposed by the court.
At least 189,010 vapes and 351,223 components were held in custody at the warehouse, with a total street value of about S$6.5 million.
The goods were meant to be evidence for future prosecution of offences by HSA.
Chua asked Chee to surveil the warehouse to see if any HSA personnel were guarding a certain unit, so that Chee or other people could go in to steal the products.
Chee agreed and drove to the warehouse sometime after 10pm on Mar 23 last year.
He parked his car at the warehouse car park before going to the 10th floor. He then climbed up the stairs to the target floor and went to the unit to conduct surveillance.
STOPPED AND ARRESTED
However, he was approached by three HSA officers at the unit, who asked him why he was there.
Chee lied that he had gone to the wrong location and tried to leave. He entered a lift and went to the car park, before driving out at about 12.40am.
As he drove, he was stopped by HSA officers. They searched his vehicle for about 40 minutes and found drug-related items including ketamine.
Chee was arrested and taken to the Central Narcotics Bureau, where his urine samples were found to contain methamphetamine and norketamine.
Chee admitted to taking meth, and said the utensils found in his car were meant for consuming it.
He was charged in court on Mar 28 last year and released on court bail, with his passport impounded as part of bail conditions.
Chee then contacted Chua, as the latter had previously assured that he would arrange for someone to smuggle Chee out of Singapore if he got arrested.
Chua told him to wait to be contacted, and Chee was instructed by an unidentified person via WhatsApp on Apr 4, 2024 to go to a location in Tuas the next morning.
Chee went and looked for a yellow lorry as instructed. It was driven by co-accused Thanesh Murugan, who has been charged for his alleged involvement.
Thanesh drove the lorry to Malaysia via Tuas Checkpoint with Chee hiding behind the driver's seat.
After Chee failed to turn up for a court hearing in April 2024, a warrant of arrest was issued against him.
He was on the run until he was arrested in October last year in Malaysia and extradited to Singapore, remaining in remand since.
The prosecution sought one year, one month and eight weeks' jail to one year, two months and eight weeks' jail for Chee.
He noted that the high number of vapes and components involved made this a serious case relative to other such cases.
However, he said there was a "low degree of premeditation and sophistication given that the accused did not use or prepare any equipment to use in his surveillance".
There was also "minimal effect on the course of justice" as Chee was arrested and the theft his surveillance was meant to serve ultimately did not occur.
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