SINGAPORE - An assistant professor found in possession of drug paraphernalia in his apartment at the National University of Singapore (NUS) has been sentenced to a years’ jail.
Jevdic Dorde pleaded guilty on Dec 11 to one count of consumption of drugs, and another for the possession of drug paraphernalia. Another drug-related offence was taken into consideration during sentencing.
The 40-year-old Serbian was arrested during a raid by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) on Aug 4, 2023.
Officers found straws, a rubber tube and a glass utensil, which Dorde admitted he had used to inhale methamphetamine, otherwise known as ‘Ice’.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Cheah Wenjie said that Dorde was released on bail the same day he was arrested after providing two bottles of urine for drug testing.
His urine samples were found positive for the presence of a cannabinol derivative.
DPP Cheah said Dorde admitted to smoking cannabis 10 days before his arrest.
The computer science professor said he began smoking cannabis in early 2020, and would sometimes smoke up to three joints a day.
He told investigators that his habit started after he was given the contact to a drug supplier.
Dorde also admitted to using the drug utensils found in his apartment to smoke ‘Ice’. He said he used the drug with other people about once a month.
Dorde, who was represented by Mr Gino Hardial Singh from Abbots Chambers, said he suffered from major depression and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
In his mitigation, Mr Singh said Dorde had resorted to self-medication as a result of his condition.
DPP Cheah said his claim of self-medication was dangerous and should not be given any mitigating weight, as it suggests that it was fine to consume illicit substances if a person is suffering from the same ailments.
Said DPP Cheah: “I think the more salient point is that neither depression or ADHD are uncommon conditions in Singapore. There are multiple avenues to address these conditions beyond consuming illicit substances.”
A spokesperson for NUS previously told The Straits Times that Dorde, who has been suspended from work since August 2023, will be subjected to internal disciplinary processes.
ST has contacted NUS for further comments.
Drug consumption
Drug offences
Crime
NUS