SINGAPORE: Australian journalist Peter Lloyd sees drug trafficking charges against him dropped in Singapore

Record ID: 750361

  • Title: SINGAPORE: Australian journalist Peter Lloyd sees drug trafficking charges against him dropped in Singapore
  • Date: 4th November 2008
  • Summary: (FLASH-0305) SINGAPORE (NOVEMBER 4, 2008) (REUTERS) SINGAPORE SUBORDINATE COURT HOUSE ENTRANCE OF SUBORDINATE COURT HOUSE AUSTRALIAN JOURNALIST PETER LLOYD ENTERING COURT SINGAPORE FLAG ON THE POLE IN FRONT OF COURT BUILDING PETER LLOYD AND HIS COUNSEL, HAMIDUL HAQ, EXITING COURT (SOUNDBITE) (English) PETER LLOYD'S COUNSEL, HAMIDUL HAQ, SAYING: "We have written a letter
  • Embargoed: 19th November 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Singapore
  • Country: Singapore
  • Reuters ID: LVA4G672J2U677K8TNP5OFBNSWAW
  • Story Text: Peter Lloyd, an Australian journalist facing drug-related charges in Singapore that could see him caned and jailed, had a trafficking charge against him dropped on Tuesday (November 4) in court.
    His lawyer, Hamidul Haq, said Lloyd would plead guilty to lesser charges.

    "We have written a letter of general representation to the attorney general's office highlighting the reasons why Peter is not a trafficker. We raised certain points. Attorney General's office duly considered these points and after due consideration they've decided to withdraw the trafficking charge against my client. So he is not going to face any trafficking charge as such. In respect of other charges that Peter faces, he is remorseful about them and he would be taking a plea of guilt for some of these charges," he said after Tuesday's hearing.
    Haq did not comment on why the Singapore attorney general changed his mind. Llyod could have faced up to 20 years in jail for trafficking drugs.
    Lloyd, a New Delhi-based correspondent for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation was arrested in Singapore on July 16 and charged with possessing and selling about 1 gram of methamphetamine. He was released on a S$60,000 ($44,052 U.S. dollars) bail on July 23.
    He also faces additional charges including one count of possessing tools containing traces of ketamine, one count of possession of tools containing traces of methamphetamine, and one count of consumption of methamphetamine without authorisation.
    Singapore drug laws are among the world's toughest and anyone caught carrying more than 15 grams of heroin, 30 grams of cocaine, 500 grams of cannabis or 250 grams of methamphetamine faces a mandatory death sentence by hanging.
    According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation network's own reports, Lloyd was on leave in Singapore receiving treatment for a serious eye infection when he was arrested.
    He is slated to be sentenced on December 2.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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