Scott Jared Monat had dabbled in drugs, said a close friend at the Coroner’s Inquiry into the death of the American student.

Monat, a 21—year—old scholar from the University of Miami, had spent last year at the National University of Singapore (NUS) on an exchange programme.

He was found dead in a NUS hostel in March 2009.

NUS student Fong Wai Nam, who lived in the same dormitory as Monat, testified that on the night of Monat’s death, a man by the name of Jason Ho had approached him for help.

Mr Ho, a 27—year—old banker, was in the room when Monat had breathing difficulties and collapsed.

They tried to revive him, but there was no pulse.

Another witness, NTU student Yong Xun Kai, said he befriended Monat at a gay pub.
They later got acquainted with Mr Ho.

Yong said Monat would get his drugs from Ho, who would obtain drugs without prescriptions for Monat and his friends.

Yong added he had seen Monat crushing and snorting a pill and that he had even taken eight pills of Valium at one go.

Monat’s father, Richard, had flown in for the inquiry and he also questioned some of the witnesses.

Twenty people will take the stand over five days of the Coroner’s Inquiry.


Channel NewsAsia CNA
06 April 2010