Australian woman Debbie Voulgaris, 57, is currently incarcerated in Taiwan on charges of smuggling heroin and cocaine. Initially denying any knowledge of the drugs in her luggage, Voulgaris later accused her ex-husband of orchestrating the smuggling operation, according to court documents, the ABC has reported.
Voulgaris was apprehended at Taoyuan International Airport near Taipei late last year. Taiwanese authorities allege she was carrying 7 kilograms of heroin and cocaine concealed in black plastic bags within her suitcase. They claim the drugs were handed to her in Malaysia around December 10, prior to her flight to Taiwan.
According to her lawyer, Leon Huang, Voulgaris was unaware of the drugs in her luggage due to a hidden compartment.
“Based on her description, it appeared that Ms Voulgaris was not aware of the nature of her travel and had no idea about the contents of her luggage,” Huang told the ABC.
Huang pushed for Voulgaris’s ex-husband, John, to testify, as he is the only person who can corroborate her account. The legal team is seeking to subpoena him, though his current location remains unclear.
The indictment by the Taoyuan District Prosecutors’ Office alleges Voulgaris was part of a “drug transport syndicate.”
While she confessed to the crime during court proceedings, her statements have been inconsistent, initially denying the charges vehemently.
Court documents reveal that Voulgaris identified her ex-husband as the co-conspirator who instructed her to transport the narcotics.
This connection implies a close relationship and raises concerns about potential collusion.
Voulgaris has been barred from contacting her family, including her daughter, to prevent any communication with potential co-conspirators. Authorities seized her phone upon arrest to thwart any attempts to contact those expecting the delivery.
Her lawyer described her as a “good-natured person” who was easily manipulated. “She was used as a mule in the international drug trade,” he said, citing the minimal compensation she received and the poor travel conditions she endured.
“The deal that Miss Voulgaris got was actually pretty bad — red-eye flights and then she was sent to Malaysia to stay in really crappy hotel for a day or two, and then she flew over to Taipei. And the so-called compensation that she was offered was minimal … so I think I believe her statements … she’s been used as a mule or something like that in the international drug transportation network, and we see a lot of examples like this,” Huang told the ABC.
If convicted, Voulgaris faces a minimum five-year prison sentence, with the possibility of life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
However, Taiwan’s Constitutional Court recently ruled that imposing a life sentence or execution for drug offenses is partly unconstitutional, offering some hope for a lesser sentence.
Voulgaris’s legal team is visiting her weekly and ensuring she receives necessary medical attention.
The Australian Office in Taipei — Australia’s de-facto embassy in Taiwan — has been permitted to visit her, providing consular support.
A petition supporting Voulgaris has garnered nearly 3,000 signatures already, highlighting her character as a “pure, kind-hearted mother” of five children.
The petition appeals for her freedom, emphasising her innocence and the severe potential penalties she faces.
“Anyone who knows her or has met her, understands the pure, kind heart she has,” the petition states.
“She is a mother to five children and she could be facing a death penalty or life in prison. Please sign the petition to help towards the freedom of an innocent, pure-hearted mother.”
As her case proceeds, Voulgaris remains hopeful that her early confession and the circumstances of her involvement will be considered in her favour during sentencing.
Source: ABC
