Melbourne mother Debbie Voulgaris has broken her silence from a Taiwanese prison, speaking out for the first time since her 2023 arrest for drug smuggling, in a premiere episode of Channel 10’s new investigative programme 10 News+.
Currently serving a 15-year sentence after pleading guilty in hopes of avoiding the death penalty, Voulgaris claimed she was unwittingly caught up in a “black money scam.”
10 News+ alleged that Voulgaris’ husband was caught up in the “scam” when he asked his ex-wife to travel.
“I wouldn’t think that he would hurt you, his children,” she told her children in a tearful video call, aired on the programme.
The episode presented text messages allegedly sent by Mr Voulgaris, including: “Brother, I’m sending my ex-wife. Better nothing goes wrong,” and later, “You are risking money, I’m risking the mother of my children.”
The show claimed Mr Voulgaris asked Debbie to travel to Laos twice to retrieve suitcases, unaware they were being used to smuggle drugs.
Debbie was arrested in December 2023 at Taoyuan International Airport with 7kg of heroin and cocaine in her suitcase. Her new lawyer, Michael Hsu, insists, “Debbie definitely has no intention to trafficking any drugs into Taiwan.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that she is receiving consular support but refrained from further comment, citing diplomatic protocol.
Source: news.com.au
