Ng Bing Hong, 37, was sentenced on June 29, 2026 to 15 months in jail for driving under the influence of etomidate, possession of Kpods, and dangerous driving causing a collision in Singapore [1, 2, 3]. He was also disqualified from driving for four years after his release and ordered to pay $490.50 in compensation to the other motorist for vehicle damage [1, 2, 3].
The offense occurred on January 3, 2026, when Ng drove along Pasir Ris Drive 1. He made a right turn but entered the wrong lane on Pasir Ris Drive 6, going against traffic and momentarily losing consciousness. His car narrowly missed two motorcyclists who tried to warn him before colliding with another vehicle. No one was injured in the accident [1, 2, 3].
Ng had purchased two etomidate-laced vape pods (known as Kpods) online for about $80 and used them before driving [1, 2, 3]. Etomidate, normally administered intravenously under medical supervision as an anaesthetic, can cause psychiatric symptoms and other medical problems when inhaled, which have been linked to traffic accidents and unnatural deaths, Deputy Public Prosecutor Darren Ang said [1, 2, 3].
Singapore reclassified etomidate as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act on September 1, 2025. Penalties for possession or use include up to 10 years’ jail and a $20,000 fine [1, 2, 3]. Between 2023 and 2025, 38 traffic accidents linked to drug and etomidate use were reported in Singapore, resulting in 19 fatalities [1, 2].
Ng’s sentencing marks one of the first prosecutions under the new classification. Courts imposed a jail term, driving disqualification, and compensation to the victim as punishment. His case highlights the dangers of inhaled etomidate outside medical use.
Ng will serve 15 months in jail and then be banned from driving for four years after his release [1, 2, 3].
