JAIL, CANE FOR NOT PROVIDING URINE SAMPLE

A JOBLESS man who defied narcotics officers by peeing in his trousers
rather than provide a urine sample has been sentenced to six years' jail
and three strokes of the cane.

Later investigations showed that Loke Tuck Fatt, 39, had taken heroin.

The Central Narcotics Bureau highlighted the case on Wednesday. Loke is the
first person to be sentenced under the Long Term Imprisonment rule for
failing to provide a urine sample.

The bureau's assistant director of intelligence, Mr Muhammad Azni Sarbini,
said it was common for people resisting urine tests to wet their trousers,
but this was the first time such a heavy punishment was meted out to one of
them.

Loke had been admitted to the Sembawang Drug Rehabilitation Centre in 1993
and 1996, and thus fell under the Long Term Imprisonment rule, which came
into effect on July 20 this year. A first-time offender who fails to give
urine samples upon request can be jailed for up to 10 years or fined
$20,000 or both.

Loke, who was on the wanted list after he failed to return to the Lloyd
Leas Work Release Camp, was arrested on Dec 6. For failing to provide a
urine sample, he was sentenced on Dec 24 to jail and the cane. He received
another four months' jail for failing to return to the work release camp.
Both sentences will run concurrently.