Mother, 57, faces execution by a gunshot to the heart in Taiwan for drug ... trends now
An Australian mother of five is facing the death penalty in Taiwan after she was allegedly caught with a stash of cocaine hidden in her suitcase.
Debbie Voulgaris, 57, was arrested at Taoyuan International Airport in December after the drugs were allegedly found in black plastic bags inside her luggage.
Taiwanese police allege she was carrying 15lbs of the drug, which - they say - she initially 'vehemently denied' having any knowledge of.
She later claimed her ex-husband John was behind the scheme, police say.
Ms Voulgaris's lawyer Leon Huang said it was 'essential' her ex took the stand as he was the only person who could confirm her claims.
Under Taiwan's strict legal system, capital punishment remains legal - despite repeal attempts. The death penalty can be imposed for a long list of crimes, including murder, treason, terrorism, extreme cases of rape and robbery, and drug trafficking.
Although Taiwan has studied other methods of execution, such as the lethal injection, executions are today carried out by shootings using a handgun.
Condemned prisoners are sedated and put face down on a mattress and shot three times through the heart. If the prisoner has opted to donate their internal organs, then they are instead executed by a single bullet to the back of the head.
Even if she is not handed the death penalty, the mother is facing minimum of five years behind bars, but could also be looking at life in prison.
Debbie Voulgaris could face the death penalty in Taiwan
Voulgaris was allegedly handed the category one drugs in Malaysia around December 10 before she flew to Taiwan, the ABC reported.
The Aussie mum was allegedly paid $US1,800 (£1,400) to take the drugs in addition to her accommodation and transport costs.
The drugs had a street value of about $1.25million (£1 million) according to Chen Po-chuan, the captain of Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Brigade.
Mr Po-chaun said Voulgaris told authorities she was in Taiwan for a holiday.
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He said officers had been sent to her hotel to see if anyone came to collect the drugs, but no one had arrived.
Voulgaris has been detained in a Taiwanese prison since her arrest.
Her lawyer Leon Huang said his client was a 'good-natured person' who 'believed people easily' and had been used as a drug 'mule'.
'Based on her description… it appeared that number one, Ms Debbie Voulgaris was not aware of the nature of her travelling,' Mr Huang said.
'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.'
Mr Huang said that because his client had admitted guilt early, while still maintaining she didn't know about the drugs, she may avoid the death penalty.
'If the court finds someone worthy of sympathy, like Debbie's case, typically, they would not want to offer the option of death sentence,' he said.
Taoyuan District Prosecutors alleged Voulgaris was part of a 'drug transport syndicate' in documents submitted to a Taiwanese court.
'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,' the documents state.
'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.'
In Taiwan, category one drugs refer to heroin, morphine, opium, cocaine, and their derivative products.
Debbie Voulgaris, 57, was arrested at Taoyuan International Airport in December after drugs were allegedly found in black plastic bags inside her luggage
John's exact whereabouts are currently unclear. Mr Huang said that the legal team was seeking to subpoena him.
Voulgaris has been denied visits from family members but can be visited by her legal team and officials from the Australian Office in Taipei.
An application for her release was denied in March, with judges Cai Yirong and Hou Jingyun ruling there was substantial evidence she was a flight risk.
Her lawyers had argued their client hadn't spoken with family in three months, was
