Singapore (VNA) - A Singaporean man was sentenced to 16 months in prison and fined 400 SGD (about 311 USD) on August 26 after he produced the etomidate-laced Kpods, for sale to e-vaporiser users.
This is the first case involving such e-cigarettes to be brought to trial in Singapore.
According to the indictment, in December 2024, 41-year-old Mohammed Akil Abdul Rahim was caught red-handed at his flat with 26.4g of white powder that contained enough etomidate to produce more than 70 Kpods. He pleaded guilty on August 13 to multiple charges, most of them related to vaping-related products. He also admitted that he had made a false statement to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) of Singapore.
Deputy Principal District Judge Ong Chin Rhu said that deterrence is paramount in offences linked to etomidate and its abuse which has been detected in multiple unnatural deaths and a recent fatal traffic accident in Singapore. She stressed that Akil’s case had transnational elements and could involve a syndicate.
Earlier, on August 24, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said etomidate, which is currently listed under the Poisons Act, will be classified as an illegal drug from September 1. The chemical will be classified under the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) as a Class C drug, meaning it is dangerous enough to require strict control. Abusers will face harsher penalties, such as a maximum sentence of 10 years’ jail and a 20,000 SGD fine for illegal possession and use.
Traffickers of Class C drugs can be jailed for up to 10 years and given five strokes of the cane. These penalties are much harsher than the maximum sentence of two years in prison and a 10,000 SGD fine under the Poisons Act for possession, use and trafficking./.
