Singaporean, 23, jumps to his death in Bali after consuming ‘magic mushrooms’

SINGAPORE – A 23-year-old Singaporean man has reportedly jumped to his death from the fifth floor of his hotel room in Bali, Indonesia.

On Monday (May 8), several Indonesian media sites reported that Ong Chee Seng fell from the fifth floor of his hotel room in Legian, Bali, after consuming a concoction made of “magic mushrooms”.

Magic mushrooms, also known as Psilocybin mushrooms or psychedelic mushrooms, are mushrooms that contain the psychedelic compounds psilocybin, psilocin and baeocystin. They are used mainly as a recreational drug.

According to Indonesian news site Tribun Bali, the young man had been hallucinating from the “shrooms when he flung himself out in the early hours of Saturday (May 6), around 2am”.

A friend tried to hold him back from jumping but lost control and Ong broke free, police told local reporters.

Kuta Police Commissioner Wayan Sumara said the victim, who was a student, died instantly from the fall.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on Monday night that the “Singapore Embassy in Jakarta is rendering consular assistance to the family of the deceased Singaporean”.

The victim’s friend, believed to be a classmate, said they had purchased a magic mushroom drink outside their hotel on Saturday evening. The victim mixed his mushrooms with orange juice, while his friend mixed his with chocolate.

TODAY understands that the victim’s friend is currently not under arrest.

Indonesian authorities have clamped down on the sale and consumption of magic mushrooms since 2014, classifying the drug as a type 1 narcotic.

In Jan 2015, the Jakarta Post reported the police as saying that “any people selling or consuming magic mushrooms could face the same charges as those using marijuana and other drugs, a minimum four-year and maximum 12-year prison term”.