ABC correspondent arrested on drug trafficking charges

Singapore, July 19 (UNI) The South Asian correspondent of the Australia Broadcasting Corp (ABC), Peter Lloyd, has been arrested on charges of possessing and trafficking drugs here.

The 41-year-old Lloyd, who was in Singapore on leave from his New Delhi posting, was arrested on Wednesday. If convicted, he face a 20-year jail term and 15 strokes of a cane.

Singapore's Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) officers have seized from Lloyd a packet of designer drug 'ice' or methamphetamine weighing some 0.8 grammes, one improvised smoking pipe and six syringes. He is also believed to have supplied drugs to a Singaporean who was arrested separately.

CNB said Lloyd was charged yesterday at the Changi General Hospital where he is being treated for a serious eye infection which he contracted while on leave in Singapore.

Lloyd has been offered a 60,000 Singapore dollar bail and will appear in Singapore court on Friday.

Lloyd has been with ABC since 1988 and has worked on several renowned assignments including coverage of Southeast Asia and South Asia.

UNI XC AM PM0555