An Australian television reporter already charged with drug trafficking in Singapore faced three new drug charges on Friday, according to court documents.
Peter Lloyd, 41, faces one new charge of consuming the stimulant methamphetamine and two charges of possessing drug paraphernalia stained with methamphetamine and ketamine at a local hospital room, the documents said.
If convicted of the consumption charge, Lloyd faces 10 years in prison, a 20,000 Singapore dollar fine (about 15,000 US dollars) or both.
Ketamine is an anaesthetic which has become common at dance parties, police say.
Lloyd, New Delhi-based correspondent for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), was arrested in Singapore last week.
He was initially charged with trafficking methamphetamine to a Singaporean at a hotel this month.
He also faces a second charge for allegedly being in possession of methamphetamine, also known as "ice", at a local hospital.
These initial charges were amended Friday, reducing the methamphetamine amounts allegedly involved, in trafficking to 0.15 gram (0.00525 ounces), and possession to 0.41 gram.
Lloyd was released from custody Wednesday after a Singaporean posted 60,000 dollars bail for him.
His case is to be heard again in court next Friday.
If convicted of the trafficking charge, Lloyd faces between five and 20 years behind bars and five to 15 strokes of the cane.
Lloyd's lawyer Tan Jee Ming told reporters the three new charges were "comparatively not that serious."
Dressed in a checkered long-sleeved shirt and black pants, Lloyd walked into court Friday morning accompanied by an unidentified female.
He appeared relaxed, chatting with a group of friends and colleagues before the case was heard.
Lloyd kept looking out at the public gallery when a court official read the three new charges to him.
Tan told the court that Lloyd plans to stay with his bailor.
After the hearing, Lloyd hugged some friends and then walked out into a large crowd of reporters and cameramen, many of whom had flown in from Australia.
Lloyd kept silent when asked for a comment before leaving in a taxi with his lawyer.
Agence France-Presse - 7/25/2008
