1. The accused is a 45-year-old male Singaporean. He was tried and convicted on the following charge:

That you, Mohd Asrad bin Hassen on the 8th day of July 2006, at or about 5.15 pm, at the car-park next to Bedok Theatre and Changi Theatre along New Upper Changi Road, Singapore, did traffic in a controlled drug specified in Class A of the First Schedule to the Misuse of Drugs Act, Chapter 185, to wit, by selling 6 packets of granular substances containing not less than 46.9 grams of diamorphine to Staff Sergeants Ang Chee Hian and Mohd Affendi bin Ideris, officers of the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) for a sum of $20,100/-, without any authorisation under the said Act or the regulations made thereunder, and you have thereby committed an offence under section 5(1)(a) of the Misuse of Drugs Act, Chapter 185 and punishable under section 33 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

As the amount of diamorphine involved exceeded 15g, the mandatory death penalty was passed on the accused.

2. He was originally charged with three others for joint trafficking in the same amount of drugs. The charges against the three others have been reduced to non-capital ones and will be dealt with by the subordinate courts.

The Prosecution’s Case

3. The evidence of the Prosecution was largely unchallenged as the defence of the accused related only to the amount of heroin he agreed to sell to the undercover officers. He claimed the amount was six packets or sachets and not the one pound and five sachets eventually transacted. I shall set out the undisputed evidence first.

4 – 11: Undercover Operation & Arrest

• On 8 July 2006, around 11:00 am, CNB undercover officers Ang Chee Hian and Affendi, with another officer, embarked on an undercover operation posing as drug buyers.
  
• They arranged to meet the accused outside Sultan Mosque. The accused was in a white long-sleeved shirt with brown stripes and sunglasses.
  
• After introductions, they went to the S-11 coffee shop outside the National Library, where the price and method of transaction (“left-right” – cash upon delivery) were agreed.
  
• The accused was later dropped off at Bishan, observed meeting a female companion, then took a taxi alone to the Bedok/Changi Theatres car park.
  
• At 5:00 pm, a motorcycle arrived. The pillion rider handed a plastic bag to the accused, who carried it to the undercover car.
  
• The accused passed the bag to Affendi, who inspected it and gave the pre-arranged signal “barang baik.”
  
• CNB officers moved in; the accused fled but was arrested after a short chase.
  
• Analysis later confirmed the drugs contained not less than 46.9g of diamorphine.
  

12 – 24: Negotiations & Drug Jargon

• Disputed evidence focused on the amount of drugs.
  
• Ang testified about his undercover assignment, contacts with “Jack,” and later the accused posing as Jack’s friend.
  
• Negotiations involved terms like “kereta” (10 sachets), “set”, “batu” (1 pound), “barang/panas” (heroin).
  
• The agreed transaction was 1 pound + 5 sachets = $20,100.
  
• Ang confirmed details in his pocket diary.
  
• Affendi largely corroborated Ang’s testimony.
  

25 – 29: Accused’s Statements

• On 8 July 2006, an oral statement was recorded where the accused referred to the drugs as “ubat.”
  
• On 10 July 2006, a long statement was recorded with an interpreter.
  
• The accused admitted he expected to handle six packets, claimed he was acting on behalf of “Ali Kong,” and said it was his first drug transaction.
  
• He admitted the charge, expressed remorse, and pleaded for leniency.
  

30. Ali Kong is still at large.