Eighteen Chefs’ co-founder Benny Se Teo reflects on final visit with friend on death row: ‘Behind the sentence is still a human being’, Singapore News

They found themselves meeting again in 1989, this time in a prison cell following an incident involving the smuggling of Chinese tobacco. 

It was during their confinement that their friendship deepened, as conversations stretched through the day and into the night.

“We spoke about music, the different genres and events happening around the world. It was during those conversations that I realised he (Tan) was actually very well-read,” said Se Teo.

Despite eventually being released a year later, Se Teo said Tan continued to struggle with drug addiction.

“It was painful to see someone intelligent, curious and full of conversation remain trapped in something that had such a hold on his life. There was much more to him,” said Se Teo. 

He added that although he was worried for his friend’s future, he felt there was little he could do.

‘Painful to see someone facing death’

The dreaded day came in 2020, when Se Teo received news from a mutual friend that Tan had been sentenced to capital punishment over his drug trafficking offence. 

Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, trafficking more than 15g of diamorphine (pure heroin) carries the death penalty upon conviction.

“It was shocking and I wasn’t allowed to visit him as visits were restricted to his family members. It was not until a few days before his execution that I was permitted to see him one last time,” said Se Teo.

Reminiscing about their last meeting, Se Teo said the encounter was bittersweet, but remembered Tan being calm and composed.

“He has been inside for six years, so he was mentally prepared for it. When I saw him, he was collected and I was actually more emotional than him,” said Se Teo.

“I guess I was just really hurt, and it was painful to see someone facing death.”

Se Teo added that although their friendship ended sooner than he had hoped, the memories they shared over the decades remain with him.

“I will remember him through the old days, when we bonded over music and the person he was,” he said.

“Behind the crime, the conviction and the sentence is still a human being – someone with a family, regrets, hopes and fears.”

Over 96% of adults back Singapore’s strict drug laws

On March 21, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam said Singapore’s approach to drug control remains firmly rooted despite a rise in drug use globally.

Speaking at the Community Resilience Against Drug Abuse Roundtable then, Shanmugam said despite criticism of Singapore’s strict drug laws, public support for the country’s tough approach remains strong, citing findings from a recent survey.

“Nearly 93 per cent of youth respondents and more than 96 per cent of adult respondents said Singapore should continue to maintain our tough laws to keep drugs out of Singapore,” he said.

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xingying.koh@asiaone.com