Corpun file 23946 at www.corpun.com

The Straits Times, Singapore, 10 September 1953, p.5

Caning best cure for opium smoking, says magistrate

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INCHE A.W. Ghows, the Singapore Eighth Police Magistrate, yesterday told Pe Kim Seng, 17, "If I had the powers to order a caning, I would not hesitate to do so. A caning is the best way to stop you from smoking opium."

Pe Kim Seng, a mechanic, who pleaded guilty to two charges of smoking opium and having opium utensils, said that it was the first time he went smoking.

Pe was fined $30 or one month's imprisonment.

In another case in the same court, an English speaking army clerk, Ng Fook Shin, also pleaded guilty to smoking and having opium utensils in a house in Victoria Street.

Ng was fined $50 or six weeks' gaol.

These two were among 20 opium cases heard in the court yesterday.