An Australian woman faces a possible death sentence for drug trafficking in Malaysia after a chemist’s report confirmed the substance found in her bag was crystal methamphetamine, a prosecutor’s report says.<\/p>\n
Maria Elvira Pinto Exposto<\/strong>, a 52-year-old mother of four, was arrested on December 7 at Kuala Lumpur airport with 1.1 kilograms of the drug which is also known as ice.<\/p>\n Prosecutor Hasifulkhair Jamaluddin told the magistrate’s court that Exposto had been trafficking methamphetamine.<\/p>\n Magistrate Noor Hafizah Salim then ordered the case to be transferred to the high court.<\/p>\n Malaysia has a mandatory death penalty by hanging for anyone found guilty of carrying more than 50 grams of a drug.<\/p>\n Authorities previously said Exposto was trafficking 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine.<\/p>\n Exposto looked nervous when the amended charge was read to her.<\/p>\n The defence is yet to enter a plea until the case reaches the high court, since the lower magistrate’s court has no jurisdiction to hear death penalty cases.<\/p>\n She was later led out of the detention room in handcuffs. The Australian said she was innocent and nodded her head three times.<\/p>\n “Yes, [I am innocent],” she said. No date has yet been set for the high court hearing, but defence lawyers said the trial could begin later this year.<\/p>\n Defence lawyers say she was duped by a stranger into carrying a bag to Melbourne. She believed the bag contained only clothing.<\/p>\n She had travelled to Shanghai after falling for an online romance scam by a person claiming to be a US serviceman, according to lawyers.<\/p>\n Customs officers discovered the drugs stitched into the compartment of a backpack.<\/p>\n