Mother-of-five faces execution by 'gunshot to heart' over alleged drug smuggling to Taiwan
23 May 2024, 20:01
A mother of five is facing the death penalty in Taiwan after stashes of heroin and cocaine were allegedly found inside her suitcase.
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Debbie Voulgaris, 57, from Australia, was arrested at Taoyuan International Airport in December last year after border security discovered drug-packed plastic bags inside her luggage.
Officials claimed she was carrying 7kg of drugs and was paid $US1,800 (£1,400) to transport the stash - which is said to have a street value of $US1.25million (£1 million).
Voulgaris "vehemently denied" having any knowledge of carrying the illegal substances - instead claiming her ex-husband was behind the plot, Taiwan police said.
The mother-of-five's lawyer said her ex-husband must testify in court as he was the only person who could corroborate her claims.
If Voulgaris is found guilty she could likely face capital punishment, which is generally carried out by firing a handgun to the heart through the suspect's back.
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If Voulgaris is not sentenced to the death penalty - which Taiwan politicians have attempted to throw out in recent years - she faces a minimum of five years in prison.
This could also be extended to life behind bars, depending on the outcome of the trial and sentencing.
Taiwan officials claim Voulgaris was carrying 7kg of heroin and cocaine which she picked up in Malaysia around December 10 last year, before flying to Taiwan.
"Based on her description… it appeared that number one, Ms Debbie Voulgaris was not aware of the nature of her travelling," Voulgaris's lawyer, Leon Huang, told the ABC.
"And number two, she had no idea of what's placed inside and under her luggage, because there is a hidden compartment and she wasn't aware of that."
The lawyer said it was "essential" for Voulgaris's ex-husband to take the stand in the case as he was the only person who could confirm her account.
Voulgaris's legal team said they were seeking to subpoena the ex-husband, but are not aware if he's in Australia.
Taoyuan District Prosecutors said in an indictment that Voulgaris was part of a "drug transport syndicate".
The court document said: "Although the defendant confessed to the crime during the court's preparatory proceedings, it is noted that she had previously vehemently denied the crime during the investigation and detention interrogation by this court, and her statements have been inconsistent.
"Notably, the defendant claimed that the co-conspirator, John, who instructed her to bring category one narcotics to Taiwan, is her ex-husband, indicating a close relationship.
"The defendant and her lawyer requested that John be summoned to testify during the preparatory proceedings, implying that there remains a risk of collusion with John before his testimony," it read, reported by the ABC.
Voulgaris has been detained in a Taiwanese prison since her arrest.
