ABC foreign correspondent arrested on drug charges in Singapore.

[Dee]

"Now the newsman's in the news
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0...

FOREIGN correspondent Peter Lloyd was about to return home and embark on a new and high-profile phase of his career when he was arrested in Singapore this week.

It would be stage two of a major mid-life change for the 41-year-old, who declared himself a gay man when separating from his wife, the mother of his two children, just six months ago.

His arrest on ice-related drug charges has not just thrown his new world into turmoil, but also that of his family.

And the ABC, where he was due to launch and co-host the new four hour news Breakfast TV program on ABC2 with Virginia Trioli in September...

"It's still quite recent that he came out, and that was really unexpected among friends and colleagues and his wife of course," a fellow correspondent said...

Lloyd is one of the ABC's most high-profile journalists, having covered stories such as the tsunami across the Asian region and has been nominated for major awards.

A journalist since 1985, Mr Lloyd joined the ABC in 1988, working in the Sydney TV newsroom for three years before moving to Britain to work for the BBC and British Sky News.

He returned to Australia to spend a decade in commercial television news and current affairs before rejoining the ABC in 2000."

[SUPERIOR AUSSIE]

Very strange that a bloke like that would take the risk in Singapore. Was not a wise move at all.
I would say his career is on hold till his tell all doco on being in a singapore jail for 20 years.

[ngali]

Yeah, that's VERY strange. Reading what little I can find between the lines, it seems it all hinges on the someone who has said Lloyd provided him with drugs. It's one guy's word against anothers.

I don't know why a well known journalist would be dealing illegal drugs in a country/city like Singapore.

I wonder why the article made such a big deal about him being gay. Do they hate gays in Singapore, or something? They definitely do in Malaysia.

[ngali]

Here's an article with some more details.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/Cou... ?

[Dee]

ngali wrote:

Here's an article with some more details.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/Cou... ?

"Peter Gerard Lloyd, 41, Australia Broadcasing Corporation's (ABC) South Asia correspondent, is said to have given a packet of crystalline substance, believed to contain methamphetamine, to Sani Saidi, 31, in return for $100 at York Hotel on July 9."

So this prominent and well-off man sells drugs for $100. In a place he knows has the harshest drug laws in Asia.

Ice is one of the gay community's drugs of choice, I would maybe be more believing if he had GIVEN the drugs to the other man.

Sounds a bit like entrapment or some other set-up, if it's on the word of one man.

[currymuncher]

Dee wrote:

<quoted text>
"Peter Gerard Lloyd, 41, Australia Broadcasing Corporation's (ABC) South Asia correspondent, is said to have given a packet of crystalline substance, believed to contain methamphetamine, to Sani Saidi, 31, in return for $100 at York Hotel on July 9."
So this prominent and well-off man sells drugs for $100. In a place he knows has the harshest drug laws in Asia.
Ice is one of the gay community's drugs of choice, I would maybe be more believing if he had GIVEN the drugs to the other man.
Sounds a bit like entrapment or some other set-up, if it's on the word of one man.

Everyone seems out to 'entrap' Australians these days !

First the rapist of a 15 year old US citizen girl, then the illegal immigrant who was locked up, and now this. LOL.

LOL.

[wallabyedward]

Fair enough comment currymuncher.

I must admit, it's very hard to feel sorry for people who commit either of those crimes.

Surely there's been enough publicity to warn everyone away from such things.

When will people ever learn?

DRUGS ARE ILLEGAL, and CHILDREN MUST BE PROTECTED.

Touch either, and you're asking for trouble.

[SUPERIOR AUSSIE]

currymuncher wrote:

<quoted text>
Everyone seems out to 'entrap' Australians these days !
First the rapist of a 15 year old US citizen girl, then the illegal immigrant who was locked up, and now this. LOL.
LOL.

Everyone seems out to 'entrap' Australians these days ?? who's everyone? what a few people talking about it. who cares. These are not the only crimes that have been committed on this planet in the last year you know!

your only talking about 3 or 4 people, How many Australians do you think there is? 14?

If Aussies break the law of any country, lock em up.

[code22x]

Don't think is him being gay. Singapore is cool about gays pubs & clubs, fashion, arts & events. Likely is the easy money,$100 for a gram only, and as a famous journalist, he is likely not being checked if hand carrying the drugs at the airport coming into Singapore.

Maybe being famous in Australia does not automatically improve his income...

[Dee]

code22x wrote:

Don't think is him being gay. Singapore is cool about gays pubs & clubs, fashion, arts & events. Likely is the easy money,$100 for a gram only, and as a famous journalist, he is likely not being checked if hand carrying the drugs at the airport coming into Singapore.
Maybe being famous in Australia does not automatically improve his income...

I'm sure $100 Singapore dollars would solve any financial problems he may have.

[Dee]

currymuncher wrote:

<quoted text>
Everyone seems out to 'entrap' Australians these days !
First the rapist of a 15 year old US citizen girl, then the illegal immigrant who was locked up, and now this. LOL.
LOL.

And no Asian nation would EVER entrap foreigners, I'm sure.

[SUPERIOR AUSSIE]

Dee wrote:

<quoted text>
I'm sure $100 Singapore dollars would solve any financial problems he may have.

I'm not sure about that Dee. I don't know, but I would not be surprised if Singapore has the lowest amount of bribery out of all the countries in the region. The penalties are far to great in Singapore.

[Dee]

SUPERIOR AUSSIE wrote:

<quoted text>
I'm not sure about that Dee. I don't know, but I would not be surprised if Singapore has the lowest amount of bribery out of all the countries in the region. The penalties are far to great in Singapore.

code22x wrote:
"Likely is the easy money,$100 for a gram only ... Maybe being famous in Australia does not automatically improve his income..."

I replied that I don't think $100 Singapore dollars would fix any financial problems he may have, I don't think the money had anything to do with his [alleged] actions.

Otherwise, I agree with you - Singapore is the WORST place to be caught with drugs, remember Barlow and Chambers?

And I believe that being caned is a nightmare, ouch!

[SUPERIOR AUSSIE]

Dee wrote:

<quoted text>
code22x wrote:
"Likely is the easy money,$100 for a gram only ... Maybe being famous in Australia does not automatically improve his income..."
I replied that I don't think $100 Singapore dollars would fix any financial problems he may have, I don't think the money had anything to do with his [alleged] actions.
Otherwise, I agree with you - Singapore is the WORST place to be caught with drugs, remember Barlow and Chambers?
And I believe that being caned is a nightmare, ouch!

Ohhh, sorry I read that wrong Dee. oooops Dohhhh. silly me.

[Gottaliv]

Dee wrote:

<quoted text> Sounds a bit like entrapment or some other set-up, if it's on the word of one man.

Shades of Schapelle Corby perhaps???

[wallabyedward]

Sounds like another person who thought they were infallible.

He knew the country and its ways, not to mention, it's laws.

Surely of all people, he'd have known what precautions he needed to take to ensure this couldn't happen, yet he was allegedly, not only found in possession, but selling as well.

If nothing else, Schappelle Corby's situation should be enough to turn the most arrogant people off, either going to those countries in the first place, and if they must, toeing the line to the letter of their laws, whilst they're there.

Our Authorities provide every piece of information, we all know to be careful, so it's very hard to feel sorry for any one who is caught with drugs these days.

To be honest, I have never understood why people mess about with the bloody things in the first place.

I feel sorry for him, but he's done this to himself.

It's those who love and care for him, he's hurt the most.

[Dee]

wallabyedward wrote:

Sounds like another person who thought they were infallible.
He knew the country and its ways, not to mention, it's laws.
Surely of all people, he'd have known what precautions he needed to take to ensure this couldn't happen, yet he was allegedly, not only found in possession, but selling as well.
If nothing else, Schappelle Corby's situation should be enough to turn the most arrogant people off, either going to those countries in the first place, and if they must, toeing the line to the letter of their laws, whilst they're there.
Our Authorities provide every piece of information, we all know to be careful, so it's very hard to feel sorry for any one who is caught with drugs these days.
To be honest, I have never understood why people mess about with the bloody things in the first place.
I feel sorry for him, but he's done this to himself.
It's those who love and care for him, he's hurt the most.

"It's those who love and care for him, he's hurt the most."

I think he already did that, by 'coming out' as a gay man. I can only imagine how they feel about it. According to the Sydney Sunday Telegraph story, he is having a 'mid-life crisis' and is in a relationship with a Singaporean man.

Interesting - his 'estranged wife' is the spokesperson for UNICEF in Indonesia and lives in Jakarta.

Sounds as if he thought he was untouchable.

[wallabyedward]

Dee wrote:

<quoted text>
"It's those who love and care for him, he's hurt the most."
I think he already did that, by 'coming out' as a gay man. I can only imagine how they feel about it. According to the Sydney Sunday Telegraph story, he is having a 'mid-life crisis' and is in a relationship with a Singaporean man.
Interesting - his 'estranged wife' is the spokesperson for UNICEF in Indonesia and lives in Jakarta.
Sounds as if he thought he was untouchable.

His Gayness isn't an issue, I have no problem with any ones choices in things like that.

I do have a real problem where he's concerned about choices which involve breaking the law whilst in another country, especially when we've had so much publicity surrounding drugs in Asia, and he being a reporter and all, what the hell was the man thinking?

As a human being, I don't want to see anyone in trouble of any kind. It's so frustrating to our sense of forgiveness and humanity, to know he's put himself so far out of our reach and support.

I'm sure all Australians feel a level of helplessness and despair, even a little angry.

I'm sure his real friends and relatives would rather he was Gay, than in this kind of trouble.

[Gottaliv]

ABC correspondent Lloyd released on bail:
By Greg Jennett in Singapore
Posted 5 hours 7 minutes ago
Updated 1 hour 36 minutes ago

ABC foreign correspondent Peter Lloyd charged with drug offences in Singapore has been released on bail.

Lloyd faced Singapore's subordinate courts and was released after a friend posted a surety of $45,000.

His bail was posted by Singaporean friend Mohamed Mazlee Bin Abdul Malik, who declared to the court that the money was his.

Lloyd appeared in court wearing an orange shirt and with his gaze fixed on the magistrate.

Outside court, director of ABC News John Cameron, told reporters that Lloyd had not yet left custody because paperwork for the release was still being processed.

Asked whether Lloyd could be freed later today, Mr Cameron said: "We hope so".

Mr Cameron says the case will now be handled by a local criminal lawyer.

"The ABC put in appropriate measures as a duty of care in the first instance. Peter's defence from here on in is obviously a matter for him," he said.

The New Dehli-based correspondent must remain in Singapore and report to the Narcotics Bureau three times a week under the bail conditions.

Lloyd was arrested last week, while on leave in Singapore, and charged with possession and trafficking of the drug ice.

Lloyd was on leave from his post as South Asia correspondent, receiving treatment for a serious eye infection in Singapore, when he was arrested.

He is due to face court again on Friday.