SINGAPORE – In the first such case after etomidate was classified as a Class C drug, a man admitted he had consumed the substance before driving a car and getting into an accident on Jan 3. No one was injured in the incident.
On June 29, Ng Bing Hong, 37, was sentenced to a year and three monthsâ jail.
He had pleaded guilty to one count each of driving under the influence of etomidate, being in possession of two vape pods containing the substance, also known as Kpods, and colliding with another car by driving in a dangerous manner.
For dangerous driving, Ng was disqualified from holding or obtaining all classes of driving licences for four years after his release date.
He was also ordered to pay a compensation of $490.50 to the other motorist, and must spend an additional two days behind bars if he does not do so.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Darren Ang told the court that etomidate is meant to be intravenously injected under medical supervision to induce general anaesthesia.
He added: âWhen inhaled, etomidate can result in psychiatric symptoms and other medical issues, some of which have been linked to traffic accidents and unnatural deaths.â
Etomidate was previously regulated under the Poisons Act, where those found in possession of or using Kpods could be jailed for up to two years, fined up to $10,000, or both.
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