A Hong Kong resident was charged with trafficking more than 4 kilograms of methamphetamine or” Ice” on Thursday ( July 18 ).
The drugs, estimated to be worth S$ 500, 000 ( US$ 372, 900 ), were hidden in two ornamental lion figurines.
Sze Hoi Shing, 25, appeared in court via video-link from where he was remanded and asked for a Chinese speaker.
He faces the death penalty for a count of reportedly possessing four packets of meth outside the SF Express office in China at 7 Changi South Street 2 at around 12 p.m. on July 16 and reportedly having 4.15 kg of meth in four boxes.
Meth is a Course A Controlled Drug under Singapore’s Misuse of Drugs Act.
Sze did never had a lawyer. He had no friends or ties to any of his relatives in Singapore, so he asked the court to hear if he could apply for legal assistance via the interpreter.
The prosecutor responded that Sze will be assigned a lawyer under the Legal Assistance Scheme for Capital Offenses ( LASCO ) if the case is submitted to the High Court as anticipated.
For those facing cash costs, LASCO provides free legal counsel.
Sze next inquired as to when the attorney would be able to converse with him.
Because I am merely aware that I have been detained and charged with this crime, he said.
The trial responded that they were unable to respond because Sze had not yet been represented by an attorney.
They sought a year’s remand for Sze.
According to a previous statement from the Central Narcotics Bureau ( CNB), Sze was detained in the Changi South area on Tuesday afternoon after he deposited a package at an airfreight warehouse nearby.