A man fled from Singapore to Malaysia by hiding in a lorry after he was charged over his role in a plan to steal vapes that had been seized by the authorities.
On July 7, Chee Wai Yuen, 36, was sentenced to one year, one month and six weeks’ jail after pleading guilty to obstructing the course of justice and offences under the Immigration Act and Misuse of Drugs Act.
He had conducted surveillance on a warehouse used by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) to store seized vapes, which another man had planned to steal.
In March 2024, Chee was contacted by a man named Chua Wee Ming, who had imported vapes and its related components into Singapore for distribution.
Chua’s plans were foiled when HSA seized his products and stored them at a warehouse. The location of the warehouse cannot be named due to a gag order.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Xavier Tan said the warehouse held at least 189,010 vapes and 351,223 components, which had a combined street value of more than $6.5 million.
The DPP added that the vapes and its components were evidence for future prosecution of offences under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act by the HSA.
Chua told Chee to conduct surveillance to check if any HSA officers were guarding the warehouse, as Chua had plans to steal the items.
On March 23, 2024, at around 10pm, Chee drove and parked at the carpark of the warehouse.
When he went to one of the units of the warehouse, three HSA officers asked him why he was there.
Chee lied that he was at the wrong location and tried to leave. As he was driving out of the warehouse, he was stopped by HSA officers.
Drugs were found in his car and he was arrested.
On March 28, Chee was charged in court and was released on court bail on April 4.
He then contacted Chua, who had previously assured him that he would arrange for someone to smuggle him out of Singapore if he got arrested.
Chee was then given an address in Tuas, where he was told to look for a yellow lorry. He later fled to Malaysia by hiding behind the driver’s seat of the lorry.
After he failed to attend his next court mention in April, a warrant of arrest against him was issued. Chee was on the run for around six months before his arrest in Malaysia and extradition to Singapore in October.
Chua’s case is still before the courts, with his pre-trial conference scheduled on July 31.
Those convicted of obstructing the course of justice can be jailed for up to seven years, fined, or both.
Nadine Chua for The Straits Times
Man conducted surveillance, plotted to help steal seized vapes worth $6.5m
