Man who grew 2 cannabis plants in his Yishun flat gets 4 years’ jail
Artamu Ibrahim leaving the State Courts on March 25, 2020. He was caught growing two cannabis plants in his Yishun home.
SINGAPORE — When narcotics officers arrested Artamu Ibrahim in his Yishun flat last year, they discovered two 45-day-old cannabis plants in an improvised makeshift greenhouse.
He had learned how to grow them online, getting information such as the amount of water, the pH level and the temperature required to cultivate cannabis.
On Wednesday (March 25), the 45-year-old was sentenced to four years behind bars. He will begin serving his jail time on April 6 and remains out on bail.
District Judge Marvin Bay noted that he had grown the plants in a sophisticated manner, “using professional horticultural tools including ultraviolet lights and video monitoring to ensure the plants would thrive”.
“The cultivation of cannabis plants is taken very seriously, as this would create a source of domestic supply and stymie efforts to control the consumption of narcotic drugs in this country,” he added.
Artamu pleaded guilty to one count each of cultivating cannabis, drug consumption and drug possession. The first charge carries a mandatory minimum jail sentence of three years.
Cannabis — also known as marijuana or weed — is a Class A controlled drug listed under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
The two cannabis plants found in the Yishun flat of Artamu Ibrahim. Photo: Yong Jun Yuan/TODAY
The court heard that Artamu was arrested on Sept 9 last year in his flat at Block 336A, Yishun Street 31. The authorities previously said that drug-related equipment had been found earlier at the parcel post section of SingPost Centre.
A 52-year-old woman was nabbed along with Artamu, but it is unclear what her status is.
When Central Narcotics Bureau officers searched the flat, they discovered two small containers of cannabis on his bedside table, as well as the plants.
He had built a tent for the plants and used light bulbs, a spotlight and LED lights to boost their growth. Fans were used to control the temperature in the tent, and he also used a ventilator and humidifier.
There was an electric timer to maintain the length of time at which the fans, the ventilator and lights were switched on and off.
Armed with two humidity meters, a thermometer, 3-in-1 meter and pH readers, he measured the soil wetness, humidity and temperature in the tent.
In order to monitor the meters and plants when he was not home, he used an Internet Protocol camera that could stream video footage to his mobile phone.
The court further heard that this was not his first drug-related offence — in 2006, he was jailed 10 months for similarly consuming cannabis. He was then placed on supervision for two years.
In mitigation, he told the court that he had a history of epilepsy and was “very regretful” for what he did. “It was a bad choice. As I Googled and I got into all this, I got more interested,” he said.
“How did you become so proficient in the use of horticulture?” District Judge Bay questioned.
“I worked in the chemical industry for 12 years but now I’m being terminated,” Artamu responded.
