Lloyd, who is out on bail, could have faced between five and 20 years behind bars and five to 15 strokes of the cane on conviction for trafficking. -- ST PHOTO: ALBERT SIM
THE Attorney-General's Chamber has withdrawn a drug trafficking charge against an Australian television journalist, who now faces four lesser charges of drug consumption and possession.
Peter Gerard Lloyd, 41, will plead guilty to the four offences on Dec 2, said his lawyer Hamidul Haq on Tuesday.
Mr Haq said he had written to the attorney-general's office arguing that Lloyd is not a drug trafficker.
'The key point is that Peter is not a drug trafficker', he said after a pre-trial conference held behind closed doors on Tuesday morning.
'In respect to the other charges that Peter faces, he is remorseful about them.'
Drug trafficking carries a maximum sentence of 20 years' jail and 15 strokes of the cane.
Lloyd came to court dressed in a crisp grey suit. He sat in the public gallery, engrossed in a news magazine, while his lawyer went into the chambers to discuss his case.
Lloyd was caught with 0.8 grammes of methamphetamine or 'Ice', one smoking pipe and six syringes in July.
The consumption charge carries a jail term of 10 years, a $20,000 fine, or both. The other charges are less serious.
