Former HK journalist arrested in Singapore high-society drug case

A former Hong Kong journalist, Nigel Simmonds, is among more than 20 people arrested in Singapore as part of an investigation into an alleged cocaine and party-drug ring.

Other clients of the alleged drug-trafficking syndicate include the son of a former High Court judge and the man formerly Singapore's most eligible bachelor, Dinesh Singh Bhatia. Also implicated were a number of bankers, restaurateurs and businessmen.

Simmonds, a Briton, was editor of the society magazine Singapore Tatler until his arrest on Saturday.

'He has tendered his resignation so he can focus on more pressing matters,' Tatler managing director Andrew Thomas said yesterday.

'He was released on bail [on Tuesday].'

Singapore Central Narcotics Bureau spokeswoman Dawn Sim said yesterday the 23 people arrested were waiting for the results of a urine test due next Friday.

'Our investigations [into the drug ring] are still ongoing but there were a variety of drugs which we seized, including cocaine, Ice, cannabis and Ecstasy.'

Simmonds, who is a former South China Morning Post journalist, and the other suspects faced jail terms if found guilty, the bureau said.

Authorities in Singapore seized 64 grams of cocaine, 5.1 grams of the methamphetamine Ice, 29.1 grams of marijuana and 52 Ecstasy pills.

Another Briton as well as a Frenchman, a Sri Lankan, a Malaysian and a Dutchman were among those arrested.

In addition to the 20 suspected clients of the drug ring, three people were arrested for trafficking in narcotics.

The alleged syndicate's Singaporean ringleader, a 35-year-old Tunisian man, as well as his girlfriend were charged with trafficking.

Simmonds, who allegedly bought amphetamines from the Tunisian, was charged on Saturday with possession of narcotics.

The Straits Times said Simmonds became editor of Singapore Tatler in April, after leaving another society magazine, The Expat.

Singapore has some of the world's strictest - and most thoroughly enforced - drug laws.

They include a mandatory death penalty by hanging for anyone caught with more than 15 grams of heroin or more than 500 grams of marijuana.