editorial comment Thank God! More dangerous criminals behind bars! Sad to see that a government has actually managed to do to its population what the husbands did to their spouses in "The Stepford Wives"....... Hey, are we banned there already (not that it's much of a challenge, but we do think that we are more subversive than chewing gum.....)

THE Rolls-Royce driving executive arrested last week by narcotics officers has been identified as top financial broker Andrew Veale.

The Briton, who has worked in Singapore for almost 10 years, was among 23 people hauled in when the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) rounded up a suspected drug trafficking syndicate said to cater to the chic crowd.

His last known work place was in the Singapore branch of Credittrade, a British-based finance firm, where he was a broker on its Structured Credit Desk, dealing in credit derivatives and structured financial products.

The company said he resigned on Sept 9, and that his leaving was 'in no way connected to the current allegations facing him'.

In the mid-90s, the 40-year-old also worked for British broking company Prebon Yamane, which has 29 branches worldwide.

Mr Veale was its Singapore branch's associate director and manager of credit derivatives.

He was arrested at his home in Victoria Park Road, near Hwa Chong Junior College, in the early hours of the morning last Friday.

His girlfriend, Ms Penelope Pang Su-Yin, who was in his house at the time, was also taken to CNB headquarters and her urine was tested.

The 35-year-old is the daughter of veteran beauty pageant organiser Errol Pang, whose company, Derrol Stepenny Promotions, organises the Supermodel Of The World and Miss Singapore Universe contests.

A search at the Registry of Companies showed she is listed as a director in her father's company.

Her urine tests were negative and she was released on police bail.

The results of a more thorough urine test by the Health Sciences Authority will be out only next week.

When contacted by The Straits Times about Mr Veale and Ms Pang, a CNB spokesman confirmed that the two had been arrested as they were 'suspected of having consumed a controlled drug'.

She added: 'They are currently assisting the CNB in its investigations and have been released on bail.'

Neither Mr Veale nor Ms Pang answered calls from The Straits Times to their mobile phones yesterday.

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