Daughter of Hour Glass founders jailed 22 months
She abused drugs over two years; she is also banned from driving for 18 months
The daughter of the couple who founded luxury watch retailer The Hour Glass was sentenced to jail for 22 months yesterday for abusing drugs over two years.
Former public relations consultant Audrey Tay May Li, 45, was disqualified from driving for 18 months and fined $1,000 for driving without due care and attention. She pleaded guilty to the three drug charges and the driving charge on Aug 27.
Another five drug-related charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.
Tay was arrested in August 2015 after knocking over a traffic light pole while driving under the influence of ketamine.
While out on bail, she re-offended in October last year when she turned up intoxicated for a psychiatric assessment at the Institute of Mental Health.
Defence counsel Eugene Thuraisingam argued for Tay to be given probation in lieu of an jail term of two years and two months sought by the prosecution.
He said her substance abuse was a form of "self-medication to escape from the stresses of her life", adding that the oldest daughter of Ms Jannie Chan, 72, and Dr Henry Tay, 73, suffered when they divorced in 2010.
Tay is a divorcee with three children. She had her older daughter taken away from her in 2014 by her former husband, according to court papers.
Tay suffered from "overwhelming pain and despair from her elder daughter rejecting her", said Mr Thuraisingam.
She was later found to be suffering from adjustment disorder with depressed mood and anxiety, and from substance abuse disorder.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Terence Chua said Tay's case was not exceptional enough.
"Despite the accused's background, the case is completely ordinary, in terms of the type of conviction, the reasons for consumption and the accidents that occurred," said DPP Chua.
In sentencing, District Judge Shaifuddin Saruwan said: "Her ability to make conscious choices is not impaired."
Tay will be appealing against the sentence.
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