SINGAPORE: A man who was arrested for driving under the influence of etomidate was caught committing the same offence again while delivering Kpods for his supplier.
Chua Beng Kai Jeremy, 32, was sentenced to three years and three months’ jail on Friday (Sep 4) for trafficking and consuming Kpods, as well as driving against the flow of traffic while under the influence of etomidate.
He was also sentenced to two strokes of the cane and will be disqualified from driving for five years after his release.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Darren Ang had sought three years and five months’ jail to three years and nine months’ jail, as well as two strokes of the cane.
Highlighting the risks of inhaling etomidate, Mr Ang said offences involving driving under the influence of etomidate are particularly dangerous.
Between 2023 and 2025, 38 traffic accidents were linked to drug and etomidate use. Of these, 19 were fatal, with nine involving etomidate.
The fact that Chua committed the second offence while on bail for the first was a particularly aggravating factor, Mr Ang argued.
He also pointed to the substantial distance Chua drove on the second occasion, from Jurong to Punggol, while carrying out deliveries of Kpods.
Chua’s lawyer, Riko Issac, who runs his own practice, argued for two years and 10 months’ jail and two strokes of the cane. Both sides sought a driving disqualification of between four and five years.
In mitigation, Mr Issac said Chua had been introduced to Kpods in “difficult and stressful circumstances”, and that using them helped to alleviate his stress and misery.
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