SINGAPORE: A woman was given a week\u2019s jail over the possession of Kpods, or etomidate-laced vapes, after she failed to turn up for rehabilitation.<\/p>\n
Tang Yu Ling, 23, pleaded guilty to one charge of Kpod possession on Tuesday (Jan 6).<\/p>\n
This is the first case of an offender being charged by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) with an e-vaporiser-related offence after failing to attend rehabilitation, said the authority on Jan 6.<\/p>\n
The court heard that Tang was caught with an etomidate-laced vape in her home on Sept 2, 2025.<\/p>\n
She said she bought the device on Telegram and knew that it contained etomidate.<\/p>\n
HSA said Tang was fined and placed on a rehabilitation programme in lieu of prosecution.<\/p>\n
On Sept 11, 2025, Tang was issued a Notice to Attend Rehabilitation at the Institute of Mental Health.<\/p>\n
The programme, which can be up to six months long, focuses on education, counselling and support to overcome addiction, including individual, group and family sessions.<\/p>\n
However, she did not attend her first appointment on Sept 24, and did not inform the authorities that she was unable to attend.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs she failed to attend rehabilitation despite repeated reminders, HSA proceeded to bring charges against her for possession of etomidate,\u201d said the authority.<\/p>\n
When asked by Deputy Principal District Judge Kessler Soh why she did not turn up, Tang said she was sick.<\/p>\n
After meting out her sentence, the judge said: \u201cI hope you are aware of how serious your offence is, and that you will stop vaping after this.\u201d<\/p>\n
In its Jan 6 statement, HSA said it has been offering mandatory rehabilitation to first-time Kpod offenders to give them a chance to quit their habit with professional support.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, offenders, as in the case of Tang, who fail to attend and\/or complete their rehabilitation will be charged in court.<\/p>\n
\u201cSuch etomidate e-vaporiser offenders face a fine of up to S$10,000 or imprisonment for up to two years or both.\u201d – The Straits Times\/ANN<\/p>\n
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