6 years' jail, caning for drug abuser who spiked roommate’s food and water over ‘personal grievance’

SINGAPORE — In a bid to teach his roommate a lesson, Don Goh Tiong Hong waited for him to go to sleep before slipping the drug methamphetamine into the other man’s water bottle and food.

The victim later consumed the spiked items and had to seek medical treatment for palpitations, lethargy and hyper-alertness. 

On Thursday (May 12), Goh, 49, was sentenced to receive three strokes of the cane and a total of six years' jail, which includes 12 months’ jail for causing hurt to the victim by means of a stupefying or intoxicating substance.

The remaining sentence of five years' imprisonment was for drug-related offences. 

The court heard that his roommate, 48, was the co-owner of their Waterloo Street residence when Goh slipped him the drug.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Regina Lim told the court that Goh had hatched the plan to drug him in early September 2019 because he had a personal grievance against him and wanted to “teach him a lesson”.

It is not known what the grievance was.

He then bought a packet of methamphetamine, which is also colloquially known as "ice", from his drug supplier for S$150.

On Oct 8, 2019, he mixed the Class A controlled drug into the victim’s water bottle and food packet, which were in the common refrigerator. He deliberately targeted these items because he knew that the victim would consume them later in the day.

Goh then intended to report the victim to the Central Narcotics Bureau to get him arrested for suspected consumption of controlled drugs.

However, the victim suspected something was amiss when he ate three to four mouthfuls of the spiked food. It tasted bitter, and he began experiencing hot flushes and a tingling sensation in his body.

The victim also recalled that he had drunk water with a similar bitter taste.

He confirmed his suspicions and called the police after viewing closed-circuit television footage in their residence, which captured Goh’s actions.

That same day, the victim went to Raffles Hospital and complained of palpitations, lethargy and hyper-alertness. His urine tested positive for meth.

Goh was charged in March 2020 but absconded in December that year while out on bail. An arrest warrant was issued against him.

He was nabbed again on Aug 31 last year and provided samples of his urine, which were found to contain meth.

He admitted that he had gone back to smoking the drug a few times a week in June that year because he felt stressed and upset.

This was not his first drug conviction as well. He was jailed 12 months in 2004 for consuming norketamine, another type of controlled drug.

Goh was also placed under a two-year drug supervision order where he was required to regularly turn up for a urine test, the court heard.

However, he failed to report for his urine test on 21 occasions without any valid reason.

Those convicted of causing hurt with a stupefying or intoxicating substance can be jailed for up to 10 years, and fined or caned.