Singapore Man Held for Poisoning Teenagers With Pills

Cherie Thio – Straits Times

Singapore. Police arrested a 22-year-old man yesterday for poisoning at least three teenagers with what may be over-the-counter anti-constipation pills.

The suspect, whose identity is being withheld by the police, randomly selected his victims on Facebook, investigations showed.

He would pretend to be their former schoolmate and ask them to help with a school project by testing some pills for him.

Over the past month, three boys have made police reports after consuming the pills and experiencing stomachaches and diarrhea, police said.

Two are aged 13 and the other is 14 years old. The three boys are from different schools.

One of the 13-year-old victims told police that three other friends had also been tricked by the suspect.

Police arrested the man at his home at about 1:55 a.m. yesterday and seized a desktop computer, mobile phone and some Dulcolax pills, which are over-the-counter drugs for constipation relief.

The suspect did not have direct contact with his victims. Through Facebook, he would arrange with them to leave packages containing the pills in public places — such as staircases and letter boxes — for them to collect. No money was exchanged.

The police said members of the public should be wary while on the Internet as criminals can easily conceal their identities and intent online.

For causing hurt by means of poison, the man could be jailed for up to 10 years, and be liable to a fine or caning.

Reprinted courtesy of Straits Times