Doctor, acquaintance who took drugs in Sentosa hotel get a year’s jail each

On August 12, a doctor and his acquaintance were each sentenced to a year in prison for consuming MDMA, or Ecstasy, at a party held at a villa in the Sofitel Singapore Sentosa hotel. Rayson Lee Rui Sheng, 36, and Tan Li Ming, 29, were among 49 men arrested during a police raid on August 9, 2023. Lee had attended the birthday party of another acquaintance, mingling with friends before heading to a club in Clarke Quay, where he was introduced to Tan. In the early hours of August 10, the pair separated and entered the villa separately.

Police, acting on information, conducted checks at the hotel shortly after 5:30am and discovered substances believed to be controlled drugs. Substances like Ecstasy and ketamine, along with drug paraphernalia, were found during the operation. The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) identified traces of MDMA in both men's urine samples, and their hair samples indicated consumption of both Ecstasy and ketamine.

Despite presenting their hair and urine samples, Lee and Tan claimed their drinks were spiked. They also argued that the police had failed to seize potential plastic cups containing drug residue. However, the Deputy Public Prosecutors (DPPs) stated there was no credible evidence to support their claims, adding that the pair presented "hypothetical scenarios and unexplored possibilities" during their trial, including allegations that unidentified foreign nationals mixed their drinks. The DPPs described these claims as distractions.

During their trial, District Judge A. Sangeetha found the accounts given by Lee and Tan during the proceedings to be unconvincing, noting that their hair samples revealed prior drug use. The judge concluded that neither man was unfamiliar with drug use. On August 12, it was announced that Lee and Tan would appeal their convictions.