A 65-year-old Hwa Chong Institution teacher from Britain, named Christopher David Burge, appeared in court today and was charged with methamphetamine consumption, along other drug-related offences.
The school told the national broadsheet that Burge was suspended last September and that he is still under suspension. A school spokesman said that they are unable to provide further details at this time due to the ongoing court case.
The court heard that the humanities teacher was found with drug paraphernalia such as a glass apparatus with an attached straw and pipe, at 11.20pm on 20 Sept last year. He apparently also possessed about 6.12g of a vegetable matter.
Analysts found that the matter contained 5-Fluoro-MDMB-PINACA, which is typically found in synthetic cannabinoids.
Burge was also accused of consuming methamphetamine that same day and of attempting to possess five packets of a crystalline substance that contained at least 3.6g of methamphetamine from 14-19 Sept last year.
The court is awaiting Burge’s medical report which is expected to take another four weeks to prepare. Burge was released on a $10,000 bail today and will return to court on 1 Feb.
Burge faces up to 10 years in jail and a maximum fine of $20,000 if he is found guilty of methamphetamine consumption. He could be jailed for a maximum of three years and fined up to $10,000 if he is found guilty of being in possession of drug paraphernalia.