The daughter of Debbie Voulgaris, the Melbourne mum convicted for drug smuggling in Taiwan, is relieved that Australia has heard her mum’s voice.
During the first episode of investigative journalism program 10 News+, Voulgaris has spoken out for the first time since her arrest in 2023, claiming she is innocent. Voulgaris is currently held at a women’s prison in Taipei, Taiwan serving a 15-year sentence for drug smuggling.
She alleged she went to Laos because of her ex-husband, but did not believe he would intentionally involve her in a crime.
“Knowing that my mum’s truth is finally being spoken and heard brings a deep sense of relief to my heart,” her daughter Maria told Neos Kosmos.
“I once wondered whether she would ever be given the chance to have her voice acknowledged and heard by others, and thankfully, she did.”
A video call recorded by the program showed Voulgaris telling her children – “I wouldn’t think that he would hurt you, his children.”
The show alleged that her husband, John, was caught up in a “black money scam” when he asked her to travel.
It alleged that John became aware that the scheme was not what he first thought.
It’s reported he sent a message to the scammer: “You are risking money, I’m risking the mother of my children.”
He has not been charged with any crime and has previously said he and his ex-wife had been set up.
Voulgaris’s new lawyer Michael Hsu also believes she was innocent.
“Debbie, definitely has no intention to trafficking any drugs into Taiwan,” he told the program.
“So, it is hard to imagine a normal housewife to be a drug mule.”
Maria said that watching the program was difficult because for two years she has “obsessively” investigated the case herself.
She previously spoke to Neos Kosmos in April, where she was ready “to let the whole world, especially the Greek community” know that her mother is innocent.
Read more: Daughter of jailed Greek Aussie says she’s innocent
Maria has also provided an update on her mother’s health in prison.
She said she has been diagnosed with a heart condition due to her stress and must now take medication to avoid strokes for the rest of her life.
She also suffers with extreme pain from blood clots spreading from her leg to her hip, leaving her in pain when she lays down.
A video call between Voulgaris and her children was recorded for the program where she begged for help to get home to her “angels”.
She also sang “you are my sunshine” to her children.
“My mother has always referred to us five children as her angels, which was bittersweet to hear all over again, even behind a prison phone call,” Maria said.
“When my mother started singing to us, it broke us completely. This explains my mother’s character so well, she could never let go of us.”
Since she last spoke to Neos Kosmos, Maria said she flew out to Taiwan to visit her mother again.
“After being apart for a year, reuniting with her, even just for an hour, was healing,” she said.
“Sitting beside her, holding her hands, resting my head on her weak shoulder, it was like in that moment, I felt like someone’s child again, safe in the presence of her mother.”
Investigations are still proceeding and Voulgaris awaits a final appeal.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appeared on the program, where he said he was “aware” of Voulgaris and that she had been given consular assistance but won’t comment further.
