Monday, June 21, 2010

News update Businessman's death: Mishap

By Khushwant Singh
Officers removing Mr Wee's body in River Valley Road. tate Coroner Victor Yeo on Monday returned a verdict of misadventure on the death of the 43-year-old shop owner. -- PHOTO: SHIN MIN
BUSINESSMAN Francis Wee Chin Wah was found naked - and dead - in bed on Sept 15 last year in his River Valley Road shophouse.

State Coroner Victor Yeo on Monday returned a verdict of misadventure on the death of the 43-year-old shop owner.

The coroner noted that there had been previous reports of men consuming sex-enhancement drugs which were contaminated with glibenclamide and suffered adverse consequences. Used in the treatment of diabetes, glibenclamide is not known to increase sexual performance, but can reduce blood glucose levels drastically when used without medical supervision. This in turn can result in fatal brain damage.

Testifying at the coroner inquiry on Monday, Staff Sergeant Mohammad Zhafrie Jalil said paramedics found an unconscious man under Mr Wee's bed. Mr Eric Sin Hoo Kat, 36, survived but could not remember anything about that incident, he added.

Police found 10 different kinds of pills. These include Viagra, Cialis, Power1 Walnut and other Chinese brands. Also found were a packet of ketamine, an improvised pipe, used condom packets and empty pill casings. In the living room, there was a board game featuring sexual instructions. There was also a pair of handcuffs.

Mr Sin, a salesman, had been in a relationship with Mr Wee for 2 1/2 years and was staying with him. He was then working in Mr Wee's shop which sold art bags, ceramics and art vases.