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LATEST NEWS
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Ex-ABC correspondent Lloyd released
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 Former ABC foreign correspondent Peter Lloyd has been released from Singapore's Changi prison.
Lloyd was arrested last July on drug offences and has been in prison since December last year.
He was sentenced to 10 months in prison for possessing the drug 'ice' and drug paraphernalia.
A source close to Lloyd says his sentence was reduced due to good behaviour.
Lloyd said he resorted to using drugs after covering traumatic events such as the Bali bombings and the Boxing Day tsunami for the ABC.
It is not yet known if he will return to Australia.
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ABC reporter Peter Lloyd out of Changi jail early
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Greg Callaghan - June 24, 2009 - The Australian
 FORMER ABC foreign correspondent Peter Lloyd has been released from Singapore's Changi prison after serving 10 months for possessing the drug ice, with his sentence reduced for good behaviour.
Charged last July with the more serious offence of drug trafficking, Lloyd faced a jail term of 20 years and 15 lashes of the cane, but Singaporean authorities later dropped the charge after Lloyd agreed to plead guilty to the lesser offences of consuming an illegal drug and possessing drug utilities.
The 42-year-old told the court he had turned to drugs as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from covering disasters such as the Boxing Day tsunami and the Bali bombings.
The ABC, which sent legal representatives to Singapore immediately after Lloyd's arrest, ended his employment after he was sentenced to jail.
Prior to his arrest, the senior journalist was to have returned to Australia and taken a job co-hosting ABC2's News Breakfast with Virginia Trioli.
ABC managing director Mark Scott told a Senate estimates committee in May that he had not been in contact with Lloyd since he had been in prison.
"If Mr Lloyd wants to talk with us about a position that is suitable for his skills and experience we will consider that at the time, but there has been no commitment given or undertaking given," Mr Scott said.
"But the only thing I would add is that if Mr Lloyd has served his sentence then I do not think it is inappropriate for us to have a conversation with him at some point."
Mr Scott was unavailable for comment yesterday.
It is not clear whether Lloyd, who has two children with his ex-wife, Kirsty McIvor, will be returning to Australia.
Authorities may allow Lloyd to stay in Singapore for a few days, or may seek to deport him immediately, Lloyd's lawyer, Hamidul Haq, said.
Additional reporting: AAP
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