Former S’pore Idol Allegedly in Drug Rehabilitation Centre at Changi Prison for Drug-related Offence

It has been a while, but look who’s back.

Yeah, Hady Mirza, that’s who it is.

Having captivated our hearts so many years ago back in 2006, the local singer can perhaps be best remembered for his thrilling triumph one year later, when he edged out formidable singers to clinch the first Asian Idol title award.

Indeed, it has been a sweet couple of years, and although he kind of faded into the background in recent years, the mere mention of his name still strikes a reminiscent chord in us.

But it seems that things are about to change.

A brush with the law

According to The New Paper, the 38-year-old, whose real name is actually Muhammad Mirzahady Amir, was recently apprehended for suspected drug offences.

And if sources are to be believed, the winner of the second season of Singapore Idol was spotted in the Changi Prison Complex about a month ago.

And today, it’s revealed in The Straits Times that he was in the Drug Rehabilitation Centre (DRC) at Changi Prison complex.

What Happened

It’s unknown when this happened, but the former Singapore Idol was allegedly caught at a land immigration checkpoint for offences involving the drug marijuana.

Only his mother and wife knew that he had been arrested.

According to his friend Mr Jumari Salam, 38, an aircraft technician, he was similarly shocked to hear of it.

“How come he is involved in drugs? When I last saw him about a year ago, he looked fine.”

Mr Jumari added that Hady treasured his privacy and had been “staying out of the limelight and focusing on his tempeh business”.

“Many of us lost contact with him, and now I feel like I need to find out more about what happened,” he said.

“It is so sad that he is no more an idol.”

A spokesman for Artiste Networks, a subsidiary of Hype Records, said it was “dismayed” after being notified of Hady’s situation.

“The management contract between Hady Mirza and Artiste Networks ended many years ago and we have not been in touch with Hady since then,” she said.

“During the contractual period, we have always known Hady to be a good-natured individual.”

Like a bolt out of the… azure blue

Considering what the singer has been up to, this really wasn’t in the cards.

In 2013, Hady was reportedly involved in youth work in 2013, having co-founded local group FRHM Youth, an organisation that encourages Muslim education and “way of life” among young people.

In 2016, he set up a home-based chili tempeh snack business under the name Tempting Trading.

And in more recent times, he was found to be operating as a Grab driver, after screenshots of a customer’s booking were shared online.

But then again, according to The New Paper…

He was supposedly struck off as the director of FRHM Youth in 2014, as well as automatically having his food company license cancelled, after its business registration wasn’t renewed in May. 

The singer we remember

Having exploded onto the local music scene after winning the second season of local singing competition Singapore Idol, Hady went on to soar to greater heights, with his Asian Idol triumph in 2007. Things didn’t end there either, with the first of his two albums attaining platinum status as well as topping charts here.

Incidentally, his greatest hits include his single You Give Me Wings and a performance of George Michael’s Freedom! ’90.

He was also nominated at least 5 times at the Anugerah Planet Muzik, an annual awards ceremony that celebrates talent n the regional Malay music industry.

Is this the end of the line for Hady Mirza?

In 2014, it was reported that the singer had wedded Malaysian Nurjannah Nur Wahid, who’s 13 years younger than him.

And in 2016, he reportedly told TNP that he was trying to start a family and wanted “three or four” children.

And really, considering those family goals, it’s hard to believe that Hady Mirza, of all people, could have turned to drugs. But of course, you know what they say:

Life’s a bitch.

So really, you don’t know when it will bark up your own ass, instead of the money tree in front of you.

#justlife

But there’s a second chance. There’s always a second chance as long as one sets a goal to achieve it.