Singaporean sentenced to death for 4.5kg of marijuana which he said he used for ‘research’

The blocks were analyzed to contain a minimum of 4,509.2g of a cannabis mixture, which Seet described as “weed”.

Two mobile phones belonging to Seet were forensically examined and located to contain bulk messages promoting the drug.

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Seet, then 28, pleaded not guilty to the charge, which carries a compulsory death sentence. He was represented by attorneys from Andre Jumabhoy LLC and Sterling Law Corporation.

Seet’s lawyers argued that their client wanted to make use of drugs for research and development purposes, not human trafficking.

His lawyers argued that Seet had developed a fascination with cannabis. In addition to its consumption, Seet was fascinated by the cultivation and potential uses of cannabidiol, a compound derived from cannabis.

To this end, Seet has launched a consultation on the opportunity of starting a cannabis business.

The defense also relied on a psychiatric report that found Seet suffered from a “drug-induced hypomanic episode,” which contributed to his “reckless and impulsive behavior” in pursuing “grand plans to begin a cannabis company” by extracting cannabidiol oil .

The prosecution maintained that Seet’s defense was merely an afterthought and was inconsistent with other evidence. He also argued that Seet failed to fulfill the diagnostic requirements for substance-induced hypomanic disorder.

Justice See found that Seet had did not prove his research-based defense, which he described as “contrived afterthought.”

The judge referred to statements Seet gave to authorities after his arrest, stating that none of them mentioned the tests. The idea of ​​conducting research was only raised as a defense in the course of the trial.

Justice See also referred to an excerpt from Seet’s statement – recorded the day after his arrest – through which the accused stated that the cannabis mixture was intended to assist “harmed” friends who “need assistance and a way of belonging, in addition to give them a way of security”.

He continued in his statement: “And also to help them get back on track in life. Hemp is also intended for disposal at any time. At the same time, it is also a way to fund activities that will ultimately help these friends earn a place in society.”

Seet testified at trial that the word “financing” was misspelled to mean “finding.” Judge See rejected this argument, noting that Seet was asked to amend his statement but refused.

In a press release recorded a month later, Seet detailed the pricing strategy for selling the herb, which he said relied on his friends’ financial capabilities, but made no mention of the research, Justice See noted.

In a later statement, Seet modified his defense, claiming the drugs were for his own use.

“Despite Seet’s effusive statements of enthusiasm for his new research and development venture, Seet clearly did not have the appropriate know-how and had no plans to extract cannabidiol from drugs,” Justice See said.

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“The defense paints a vivid picture of Seet as an avid cannabis enthusiast. According to the defense in Seeta, the fascination with cannabis went beyond simple smoking. His interests included the cultivation and various uses and/or benefits of cannabidiol.

He noted that Seet believed it was only a matter of time before cannabis was legalized in Singapore. Seet also contacted people involved in business ventures abroad.

However, the discussions were unclear and contingent on Singapore legalizing marijuana, the judge noted.

Seet even sought advice from senior lawyer Kertar Singh, whom he knew through his sister.

Seet hoped that Kertar could help with legal issues related to cannabis cultivation in Singapore and asked the lawyer to arrange a meeting with the authorities regarding the matter.

Instead, Kertar advised him against it. The lawyer testified that he told Seet it was “virtually impossible” to set up a cannabis café here and to “talk it out of his mind.” He refused to help Seet, adding that writing to the authorities would be an “exercise in futility.”

I find it hard to believe that Seet had any specific ideas or plans for cannabidiol research and development in Singapore

“In my opinion, Seet’s testimony does suggest that he was a cannabis enthusiast. Not only was he an enthusiastic cannabis consumer, but he also wanted to explore the possibility of starting a cannabis business in Singapore,” Justice See said.

That said, the judge emphasized that Seet’s plans were “vague, nebulous and ultimately undeveloped.”

“Given the scope of scattered and vague ideas that Seet had… and the fact that some of his ideas didn’t even have anything to do with Singapore, I find it hard to believe that Seet had any specific ideas or plans for research and development (including production and/or extraction) of cannabidiol in Singapore that he could work with and was willing to take action on, much less drugs.

“Any such ideas and plans existed only in his imagination. Nothing beyond mere talk has translated into action.”

The judge also rejected the argument that Seet suffered from hypomania, agreeing with the prosecution that the psychiatric diagnosis on this regard was based on “inconsistent information provided by Seet.”