Malaysian who dodged death for drugs in Singapore walks free

A 38-year-old Malaysian man who escaped the noose on Oct 13, 2020, after the Singapore Court of Appeal cleared him of a capital drug charge, finally walked out a free man yesterday.

The Straits Times reported that Beh Chew Boo was released after the same panel of judges dismissed a bid by prosecutors to proceed with the trial of four other non-capital charges against him.

The judges – Sundaresh Menon, Tay Yong Kwang and Steven Chong – came in with a 2-1 decision, the daily reported.

Beh, who was arrested in October 2016 at the Woodlands checkpoint, faced five charges of unauthorised import of controlled drugs on the same occasion to the republic.

The prosecution however proceeded with only the first charge which involved the death penalty while the other four charges were stood down.

Beh claimed trial and was convicted by the High Court on the charge of importing into Singapore not less than 499.97g of methamphetamine.

He was sentenced to death in early 2020.

At the time of the incident, Beh, who was 34 then, entered Singapore from Malaysia on a Malaysian-registered motorcycle.

The registered owner of the motorcycle was his friend and ex-colleague while his girlfriend, Ting Swee Ling, was riding pillion.

The seized drugs contained not less than 742.82g of crystalline substance, which was analysed and found to contain not less than 499.97g of methamphetamine.