Drug addict gets jail sentence for trying to steal from senior citizen
Photo: Reuters
SINGAPORE – The law caught up with a middle-aged man who has had previous run-ins with the authorities for substance abuse after he tried unsuccessfully to snatch money from a senior citizen.
Tan Pee Seng, 55, tried to steal a stack of cash amounting to S$4,000 from Mr Toh Kian Chuan, an 81-year-old retiree, on Jan 27. The incident took place at a currency exchange shop in People’s Park Complex when Mr Toh left the stack of cash at the counter to retrieve his identification card.
When Tan tried to run away with the loot, he was caught by a security guard at the mall, with the help of some passers-by.
Following his arrest, a toxicology report showed that Tan’s urine sample contained morphine. He later admitted to have consumed “peh hoon”, which is the street name for diamorphine, a couple of days prior to his arrest.
Tan was sentenced to seven years and nine months in jail today (April 27) for drug consumption and possession, failing to report for urine tests and for theft.
He could have been sentenced to a maximum jail term of 13 years, with 12 strokes of the cane, or up to S$20,000 fine. However, due to his age, Tan was spared the caning sentence.
Tan’s criminal record showed that he has been in and out of jail – mostly for drug abuse – since 1982 when he was sentenced to five years in prison with five strokes of the cane, for consuming and trafficking a controlled drug. He was also arrested for robbery in 1987 and for vandalism in 1996.
His most recent brush with the law prior to his arrest this year, was in January 2013, where he was placed under drug supervision for 24 months for consuming monoacetylmorphine.
