After purportedly being forced to work as a courier for a drug trafficking organization, Cheuk was arrested while in possession of over 2 kilograms of high-quality heroin during a stopover in Singapore's Changi Airport.

Despite vehemently protesting her innocence and stating that she was tricked into smuggling narcotics, Cheuk was found guilty at trial and sentenced to death, with the Singaporean authorities being ultimately undeterred by pleas for clemency.

[9] On 2 March 1989, Cheuk and Tse were formally charged with importing heroin, worth an estimated $6 million,[10] into Singapore and then remanded in custody to face trial.

[11] On 6 January 1992, Deputy Public Prosecutor Jennifer Marie informed the court how customs officers on routine surveillance had spotted Cheuk and Tse disembarking from a Thai Airways flight and pulled them in for questioning.

Lawyer Freddy Neo also asserted that the act of importation was compete only once goods crossed the official customs barrier, therefore the pair could not have 'imported' the drugs as they both remained in the transit lounge.

[15] Deputy Public Prosecutor Jennifer Marie replied that recent court cases, such as the trial of Lau Chi Sing, had determined that 'import' meant bringing something into the country, whatever the purpose may be and regardless of whether Singapore was the ultimate destination or not, and regardless of whether it was delivered to anyone or not.

[15] On 14 January 1992, Cheuk and Tse were both found guilty as charged and sentenced to death for importing 3.8 kilograms of pure heroin into Singapore, contrary to Section 7 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Likewise, Tse not rebutting the claim he said "pak fun" when asked what was strapped to his body after his arrest left the court with no option but to accept it into evidence.

Although Cheuk was deemed to be tentative while giving her evidence, the judges did not believe she was so unintelligent to not realize she was carrying drugs, noting that it would be impossible to mistake the white powdery substance being secured to her legs for gold jewellery.

In addition, the court dismissed accusations of prejudice by highlighting how Cheuk's defence was disregarded due to it being unbelievable and that any unfavourable view of Tse's case would ultimately be irrelevant to this fact.