Drug Case Briton Faces 10 Years

A British magazine editor is facing up to 10 years in prison after the authorities in Singapore smashed what is alleged to be a high-society cocaine ring.

Nigel Simmonds, 40, who edited the Singaporean edition of the society magazine Tatler until he was arrested on October 7, is an addict struggling to break his habit and not a "party-going druggie," according to his solicitor, Shashi Nathan. He was one of 23 people arrested last month in a sweep across the island city-state. The others include a British financial broker, Andrew William Veale; his Singaporean girlfriend Penelope Pang; and a clutch of minor celebrities.

Police have charged 10 of the suspects, including both Britons, with possession of various drugs including cocaine, the methamphetamine Ice, ecstasy and cannabis. They face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Three others, two Singaporeans and a Tunisian, have been charged with trafficking and face the death penalty if convicted. The rest were released.

Mr Nathan said the offer of a deal was made "to let the [prosecutors] know [Mr Simmonds] is willing to take responsibility for his actions but also to ask them to give him a break". Mr Simmonds, who has lived most of his life in Singapore and Malaysia, faces three charges of consumption of cocaine and Ice, one of possession and one of possessing "the paraphernalia" to take cocaine.

"We hope to get rid of one consumption charge and the two possession charges," he said. "By pleading guilty he will hopefully receive only 18 to 30 months, but because of the wide publicity one worries the prosecution will want to set an example and use this case for deterrence."

Singapore has a mandatory death sentence for anyone convicted of possessing 15 grams of heroin or more than 500 grams of marijuana.