ABC's S. Asia correspondent arrested on drug charges

Singapore City (Singapore), July 18 : ABC's South Asia correspondent Peter Lloyd, who is based in New Delhi, is facing drugs charges after being arrested in Singapore.

Lloyd, 41, was arrested earlier this week and is likely to be charged with drug-related offences. He faces up to 20 years jail and 15 strokes of the cane if found guilty of the drug charges, news.com.au reported.

Police from Singapore's Central Narcotics Bureau arrested Lloyd on Wednesday after a tip-off.

Singapore's Central Narcotics Bureau said in a statement that Lloyd had allegedly supplied a Singaporean man with drugs and was caught with 0.8g of methamphetamine, one smoking pipe and six syringes.

It said Lloyd's urine had tested positive for amphetamine.

A court hearing for Lloyd is underway.

An ABC spokesman said Lloyd was in Singapore on leave from his post in New Delhi.

"We currently are seeking further information and are in contact with consular officials in Singapore," the spokesman said.

ABC director of news John Cameron said the broadcaster had been advised by Foreign Affairs that Lloyd had been arrested was likely to be charged with drug-related offences.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said consular staff had visited Lloyd in hospital. "Departmental officials have also been in contact with friends and family," he said.

From New Delhi, Peter covers the South Asia nations of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives.

From 2002 to mid 2006 he was based in Bangkok reporting on South East Asian affairs in Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore and the Philippines.

His compelling reports on the Bali bombings and later the Tsunami disaster earned several Walkely Award nominations.

A working journalist since 1985, Peter has reported for Australian audiences from the UK, Europe, Africa and the United States.

He joined the ABC in 1988, working in the Sydney television newsroom for three years before moving to Britain to work for the BBC and British Sky News.

On his return, Peter spent a decade in commercial television news and current affairs in various roles including, reporter/presenter, program executive producer and North America Correspondent.

In 2000, Peter returned to the ABC, taking up a senior reporting role with television news and later with the national radio current affairs programs AM, The World Today and PM.

ANI