Prosecution appeals against reduced charges in Metro scion drug deal Ong Jenn, Courts & Crime News & Top Stories



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SINGAPORE – Ong Jenn, the descendant of the Metro family, had enough cannabis at home to last between one and seven months, but he ordered more drugs from his supplier, enough to feed his mate until the next day. ten more months

He pleaded this issue before the High Court on Monday, July 16, finding it absurd that Ong "stores" so many drugs – enough for 17 months – solely for his own consumption .

Ong, 43, faced two of the charges of promoting controlled drug trafficking, namely 92.68 g of cannabis and 385.1 g of cannabis blend.

His supplier, Mohamad Ismail Abdul Majid, had called in October 2014 to ask him if he wanted to buy cannabis. Ong agreed to buy 500g for $ 5,000. Ismail was arrested before the drugs were delivered.

After a six-day trial, a district judge accepted Ong's explanation that the drugs were solely for his own consumption and reduced the charges to attempted possession last May. ] Ong is currently serving a two-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to reduced charges.

The prosecution appealed, arguing that Ong should be found guilty of initial charges of complicity in trafficking, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence On Monday, prosecutor General Kow Keng Siong argued that written messages between Ong and two friends show that he agreed to sell or share cannabis with them.

The DPP stated that the amount of narcotics allowed to infer that Ong had ordered Mohamad Ismail's drug to traffic it.

He said that Ong had given conflicting accounts is the rate of consumption, but the trial judge "unquestionably accepted" his unfounded allegation in cross-examination that he used 140g every two weeks [19659002] The DPP argued that the judge was wrong in concluding that Ong was a "man of not being particular to spend $ 5,000 in drugs. Ong, director of business development at Metro Holdings, earned $ 7,000 a month

Even though Ong was a "man of means", there is no reason for people from well-off families not to to do drug trafficking.

Ong's lawyer, senior attorney Tan Chee Meng, contended that his client was a "heavy user" – having made the habit of using cannabis when he was not a drug user. he was studying in the United States – but not a trafficker

Ismail had repeatedly called Ong to buy the drugs; Despite having enough at home, Ong reluctantly agreed to buy more drugs because of the harassment.

The defense also presented dividend vouchers to show that Ong had earnings outside of his salary. The details were not disclosed in open court.

Ong, his head shaved and visibly thinner, seemed relaxed during the call. He will be tried later this year for another round of drug charges

Judge Hoo Sheau Peng will render a ruling on the appeal at a later date

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