The admission came days after The Straits Times reported that Mr Tong Mun Cheong was arrested Oct 1 on suspicion of being drunk after suffering a seizure along Sungei Road, near Jalan Besar.

The 34-year-old, who has had epilepsy for more than a decade, was waiting for a cab at the time.

While in custody, Mr Tong said officers denied his appeals to contact his mother, who had medicine that would prevent another seizure, and also brushed off requests to send him to the hospital.

A police spokesman confirmed that around 9pm that night, about two hours after being arrested, Mr Tong suffered a seizure in custody. After being seen by paramedics, he was eventually released about 51/2 hours after his arrest.

A police spokesman said the case could have been handled better. 'We fully empathise with (Mr Tong's) family's anxiety and have explained matters to them.'

Read the full story in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.