Ex-inmate from Inside Maximum Security prison documentary gets jail after committing offences after release

Graceson Ang's lawyer outlined how he had been able to find only a low-paying job upon release from prison, and turned to the delivery of contraband cigarettes.

Graceson Ang in a still from CNA documentary Inside Maximum Security.

This audio is generated by an AI tool.

SINGAPORE: An ex-inmate who featured in CNA's prison documentary Inside Maximum Security has been sentenced to jail again for offences including the delivery of contraband cigarettes and importation of stun guns.

Graceson Ang, 41, was sentenced on Thursday (Oct 15) to three years and one month's jail , with an additional 510 days' jail because he reoffended while he was on remission.

This adds up to just over four years and five months' jail.

Ang pleaded guilty to six charges which included the importation of stun guns without a permit, making a false statement that he had lost his passport, failing to present himself for a urine test and conspiring to deliver contraband cigarettes.

Another nine charges were taken into consideration.

Ang had appeared in a documentary by CNA in 2022 that charted the journey of inmates in prison, sharing his background and his fears about his wife leaving him and his concern for his daughter.

Ang had previously served jail time for offences including drug-related crimes and criminal intimidation.

The court heard that Ang was placed under compulsory supervision on Nov 15, 2022 for 60 months from Nov 19, 2022 to Nov 18, 2027.

During this period, he was not allowed to leave Singapore without the approval of the supervision officer.

However, he left Singapore for Malaysia without approval on Nov 23, 2022 and returned a day later.

Then, in February 2023, Ang bought two stun guns from an overseas seller from an online shopping platform.

The devices could emit an electric current and could injure a person. They fell within the definition of arms in the Arms and Explosives Act and were controlled imports as a licence was required for their import into Singapore.

The parcel was intercepted at SingPost Centre on Mar 7, 2023 by a screening officer with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, who noticed the parcel after it went through an X-ray machine.

Ang also admitted to engaging in a conspiracy with one Lim Jun Hong to deliver duty unpaid cigarettes worth more than S$175,000 (US$136,500) on Feb 8, 2023.

As Ang was under the supervision order, he was required to present himself for a urine test at certain intervals.

However, he failed to do so on Apr 3, 2023, and he had no medical certificate or valid reason justifying his failure.

He also failed to show up for his urine tests on more than 100 other occasions.

Ang returned to Malaysia again without permission and was arrested at Woodlands Checkpoint on Jun 17, 2025, after being deported from Malaysia.

Shortly after, he was charged and remanded in Singapore.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Niranjan Ranjakunalan sought a total sentence of 36 months and six weeks' jail to 42 months and eight weeks' jail, along with an enhanced sentence of 490 to 550 days' imprisonment.

He said that while Ang may have shown rehabilitative prospects while he was in a halfway house, he committed the first set of offences just four days after leaving the halfway house.

The reoffending points to weak prospects of rehabilitation, said the prosecutor, adding that it would be artificial to view such prospects "in a vacuum".

Defence lawyer Anil Singh Sandhu of Kertar & Sandhu sought 32 months and six weeks' jail instead, with an enhanced sentence of 355 days' jail.

Mr Anil said his client has three children, the oldest of whom lives with his client's parents. The two younger children are in the care of their mother.

He said Ang's wife commenced divorce proceedings while Ang was remanded, and the divorce was finalised in November 2025.

The matrimonial proceedings became a source of significant stress for Ang, said Mr Anil.

He said Ang attended a programme at the halfway home before being released, working as a mover and a florist.

After he was released, he tried to secure employment which would allow him to contribute financially towards his parents' household expenses and to assist his children.

He could secure only a sales assistant role at a car dealership, where he received a basic salary of about S$500, with a commission of the same amount for each successful sale, said Mr Anil.

Because of his inexperience, Ang's base salary was lower than those of his colleagues. He was "ashamed" that he had been unable to carry out his responsibilities as a son and father, said the lawyer.

As Ang was new to the industry, there were months when he made no sales and earned only S$500, said Mr Anil.

It was against this backdrop that Ang asked a friend about employment opportunities and was referred to the job involving contraband cigarettes.

He was to act as a lookout, collect the sale proceeds and coordinate with drivers making the deliveries, earning about S$300 per delivery.

Mr Anil quoted a psychotherapy report prepared by the Centre for Psychotherapy, which stated that without stable self-worth, a lawful identity and structured employment, Ang became vulnerable to familiar peer or offence-linked environments that offered him a temporary sense of belonging, income, status or escape.

According to the report, he was especially vulnerable to opportunities that appeared practical, work-related or financially beneficial. He did not pause to check their legality, distance himself from risk or seek advice before acting, it added.

Mr Anil said Ang has benefited from therapy and the centre has put in place a plan to focus on his continued rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

"He begs for mercy, and he promises he will not reoffend," said the lawyer.

In sentencing, District Judge Lorraine Ho noted Ang's "recalcitrant behaviour" and the amounts involved in the contraband cigarette offences.

Ang, who attended court via video-link from his place of remand, furrowed his brow as he listened to the sentence.

He was allowed one phone call to speak to his family after the case concluded.

For making a false statement in his passport application, he could have been jailed for up to 10 years, fined up to S$10,000, or both.

For failing to report for a urine test while under a supervision order, he could have been jailed for up to four years, fined up to S$10,000, or both. He was also liable to receive an enhanced sentence for offending while on remission.

For conspiring to deliver contraband cigarettes, he could have been jailed for up to three years, fined, or both.

Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox

Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories

Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app

格雷森·昂的律师概述了他出狱后只能找到一份低薪工作，于是转而从事走私香烟的勾当。

格雷森·昂在 CNA 纪录片《最高安全级别监狱内幕》的剧照中。

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：一名曾出现在亚洲新闻台监狱纪录片《最高安全级别监狱内幕》中的前囚犯，因走私香烟和进口电击枪等罪行再次被判入狱。

41 岁的 Graceson Ang 于周四（10 月 15 日）被判处三年零一个月监禁，由于他在减刑期间再次犯罪，因此被加判 510 天监禁。

加起来相当于四年零五个月的监禁。

Ang承认了六项指控，其中包括无证进口电击枪、谎称丢失护照、拒绝接受尿检以及串谋贩运违禁香烟。

另外九项指控也被纳入考虑范围。

2022年，Ang曾出现在CNA的一部纪录片中，该片记录了监狱囚犯的经历，Ang分享了他的背景，以及他对妻子离开他的恐惧和对女儿的担忧。

Ang 此前曾因涉毒犯罪和刑事恐吓等罪行入狱服刑。

法庭获悉，Ang 于 2022 年 11 月 15 日被强制监管 60 个月，从 2022 年 11 月 19 日至 2027 年 11 月 18 日。

在此期间，未经监管官员批准，他不得离开新加坡。

然而，他于 2022 年 11 月 23 日未经批准离开新加坡前往马来西亚，并在一天后返回。

然后，在 2023 年 2 月，Ang 通过在线购物平台从海外卖家处购买了两把电击枪。

这些装置会释放电流，可能伤人。它们属于《武器和爆炸物法》中定义的武器，属于管制进口物品，进口到新加坡需要许可证。

2023年3月7日，该包裹在新加坡邮政中心被移民与关卡局的一名检查人员截获，该检查人员在包裹通过X光机后发现了它。

Ang 还承认与 Lim Jun Hong 合谋，于 2023 年 2 月 8 日交付价值超过 175,000 新元（136,500 美元）的未缴税香烟。

由于Ang处于监管令之下，他需要定期接受尿检。

然而，他在 2023 年 4 月 3 日未能做到这一点，并且他没有任何医疗证明或正当理由来证明他未能做到这一点。

他还缺席了100多次尿检。

Ang 未经许可再次返回马来西亚，并于 2025 年 6 月 17 日在兀兰关卡被捕，此前他已被马来西亚驱逐出境。

不久之后，他被控告并被新加坡当局还押候审。

副检察官尼兰詹·兰贾库纳兰要求判处 36 个月零 6 周至 42 个月零 8 周的监禁，并要求加重刑罚，判处 490 至 550 天的监禁。

他说，虽然Ang在过渡性住所期间可能表现出了改过自新的希望，但他在离开过渡性住所仅仅四天后就犯下了第一起罪行。

检察官表示，再次犯罪表明改造前景渺茫，并补充说，如果“孤立地”看待这种前景，那就太片面了。

辩护律师 Anil Singh Sandhu（Kertar & Sandhu 律师事务所）请求判处 32 个月零 6 周的监禁，并要求加刑至 355 天监禁。

阿尼尔先生说，他的委托人有三个孩子，最大的孩子和委托人的父母住在一起，两个较小的孩子由他们的母亲照顾。

他说，Ang的妻子在Ang被还押候审期间开始了离婚诉讼，离婚于2025年11月最终生效。

阿尼尔先生说，婚姻诉讼给昂带来了巨大的压力。

他说，Ang在获释前曾在过渡之家参加过一个项目，做过搬运工和花店老板。

获释后，他努力找工作，希望能为父母的家庭开支做些贡献，并帮助自己的孩子。

阿尼尔先生说，他只能在一家汽车经销店找到一份销售助理的工作，基本工资约为 500 新元，每成功售出一辆车，还能获得相同数额的佣金。

律师说，由于缺乏经验，昂的基本工资低于同事。他对自己未能尽到儿子和父亲的责任感到“羞愧”。

阿尼尔先生说，由于安刚入行，有好几个月他都没有销售额，只赚了 500 新元。

正是在这种背景下，Ang向朋友询问就业机会，并被介绍到一份与走私香烟有关的工作。

他的职责是放哨、收取销售款项并与送货司机协调，每次送货可赚取约 300 新元。

阿尼尔先生引用了心理治疗中心编写的一份心理治疗报告，该报告指出，由于缺乏稳定的自我价值感、合法身份和结构化的工作，安格很容易受到熟悉的同伴或与犯罪有关的环境的影响，这些环境能给他提供暂时的归属感、收入、地位或逃避感。

报告指出，他尤其容易被那些看似切实可行、与工作相关或经济有利的机会所诱惑。报告还补充说，他没有停下来核实这些机会的合法性，没有规避风险，也没有在采取行动前寻求建议。

阿尼尔先生表示，昂从治疗中受益匪浅，该中心已制定计划，重点关注他的持续康复和重新融入社会。

律师说：“他恳求宽恕，并保证不会再犯。”

在宣判时，地方法官洛琳·何指出Ang的“顽固行为”以及走私香烟罪行涉及的金额。

被还押候审的Ang通过视频连线出庭，在听到判决时皱起了眉头。

案件结束后，他被允许给家人打一次电话。

他因在护照申请中作虚假陈述，可能被判处最高 10 年监禁、最高 1 万新元罚款，或两者并罚。

他因未按规定接受尿检而被判处最高四年监禁，并可能被处以最高1万新元的罚款，或两者并罚。此外，他在缓刑期间再次犯罪，也可能面临更重的刑罚。

他因合谋走私香烟，可能被判处最高三年监禁、罚款或两者并罚。

订阅我们的邮件，即可获取精选热点新闻和引人深思的文章。

订阅通知，第一时间获取突发新闻和精彩报道。

加入我们的频道，即可在您常用的聊天应用上获取当日热门文章。