Audrey Tay Faces Nine Drug Charges: A Glimpse Into The Hour Glass Family Drama
Who’s in the spotlight? At 45, Audrey Tay – a former PR whiz and the daughter of the founders of luxury watch retailer The Hour Glass – finds herself at the center of a legal storm. She’s been charged with a slew of drug offences, and a trial is slated to begin next week in the State Courts.
What’s the story?
- Two sets of charges: one from August 2015 and another from October 2023.
- 2015 Allegations: driving a car into a traffic light pole, ketamine and methamphetamine use, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
- 2023 Allegations: “four drug‑related offences” with a focus on ketamine consumption.
- Total: nine charges, though prosecutors might select only a subset for trial.
2015‑Style Drama
On the night of 28 August 2015, a car stolen control at 1:38 am on Newton Road, collided with a traffic light pole. Audrey was dragged into the scene the next morning—knee‑leaping into a world of drugs when authorities found:
- 9 straws set up for drug use
- 2 packets of ketamine
- Evidence spotted at the Tanglin Police Divisional Headquarters Lock‑up around 10:30 am.
These lead to five charges, including:
- Driving without due care & attention (Section 65(a) of the Road Traffic Act)
- Possession of ketamine and related paraphernalia
2023‑Florida‑like Scandal
In November 2023, four charges surfaced after an alleged ketamine binge in October. While the police didn’t publicly detail every piece of evidence, the allegations are serious enough to merit a separate trial next week.
Legal Landscape
— Each charge can result in a fine up to $20 000 or up to 10 years in jail – or a combination of both.
— Audrey’s defense is led by the seasoned lawyer Eugene Thuraisingam.
— She also holds a pedigree in marketing and brand‑building, having studied at the London School of Economics and INSEAD.
The Family Circus
- Audrey’s mother, Jannie Chan (72), and her late husband, Henry Tay (73), are known in society for extravagant parties and philanthropic efforts.
- Jannie herself is battling her own legal woes: she faces a two‑week jail term for contempt of court after ignoring a restraining order that barred her from defaming her former husband.
- The High Court in April ordered her sentence to stand once she re‑stepped over that order, placing a heavy legal weight on the family’s legacy.
- Justice Hoo Sheau Peng remarked that the pair “deserve a chance to move on and close this unfortunate chapter,” signalling a potential for leniency.
- A “court of appeal” appeal is ongoing for Jannie, providing a glimmer of hope that the sentence might get suspended or reduced.
What’s next?
In the days ahead, the State Courts will listen to the evidence. Whether the entire slate of nine charges proceeds or only a few will go to trial remains to be seen. Meanwhile, the public is watching a family that once crafted timeless watches now navigate a narrative far from glittering.
Stay tuned for updates: the legal pages are about to burst with the unfolding drama of Audrey Tay and the Hour Glass legacy.
