Australian woman charged with drug trafficking

SEPANG: An Australian woman was charged in the Sessions Court here today with trafficking in 1.5kg Methamphetamine of into the country early this month.
Maria Elvira Pinto Exposto, 51, was charged with committing the offence at International Arrival Hall, Main Terminal of the KL International Airport (KLIA) at 3.40 pm last Dec 7.
She is charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and faces the death sentence, if found guilty. Exposto, who has four children, nodded her head after the charge was read, but no plea was recorded.
Judge Noor Hafizah Mohd Salim set Jan 23 for mention, pending a chemist report, and transferred the case to the High Court.
Lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, representing Exposto, said his client was on transit at KLIA on her way to Melbourne.
Deputy public prosecutor from the Royal Customs Department Hasifulkhair Mohd Jamaluddin prosecuted. – Bernama