Hellhole jail Aussie mum-of-five is facing in Taiwan
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An Australian mum-of-five accused of smuggling 7kg of cocaine and heroin into Taiwan is holed up in a cramped jail, isolated from her family with no one to talk to.
Debbie Voulgaris, 57, has been in a Taiwanese prison since she was arrested at Taoyuan International Airport in December after about $1.25million worth of drugs were allegedly found in black plastic bags inside her suitcase.
Her ex-husband John Voulgaris told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday that she was framed by criminals posing as overseas investors who used her as a drug mule, and stopped taking his calls once she was arrested.
However, local police allege Ms Voulgaris was paid $2,700 to cover her flights and accommodation while she transported the drugs from Malaysia to Taiwan.
She faces death by firing squad if found guilty, but the sentence could be reduced to a lengthy jail sentence.
Until her matter goes back to Taoyuan District Court in August, she will be stuck in jail and barred from speaking to her ex-husband, or her five children in Melbourne.
Debbie Voulgaris (pictured), 57, was arrested at Taoyuan International Airport in December
Ms Voulgaris (pictured) was arrested after drugs were allegedly found in black plastic bags inside her luggage
Taoyuan Woman's Prison (pictured) where inmates are forced to spend the day working in factories
It is likely Ms Voulgaris is being held in Taoyuan Woman's Prison, where inmates are forced to work in factories, are banned from speaking, and have to buy their own blankets.
According to a British government website, there are two or three inmates per cell who each have a foam mattress, but extras have to be purchased from the prison shop.
Talking between detainees is only permitted during breaks, meals are bread and rice and only cater for Chinese palates, and all fruit and vegetables are purchased at the inmate's own expense.
Almost half the inmates at Taoyuan Woman's Prison have committed drug offences.
Ms Voulgaris has been denied visits from family members but can speak with 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 her family in three months, was struggling to adapt to Chinese food and could not speak Chinese.
However, the judges ruled these were 'not factors to be considered when determining the necessity of detention'.
One American expat who spent weeks in Pingtung Detention Center, in the nation's south, previously told the Taipei Times overcrowding was a major issue with only 75 per cent of inmates assigned their own bed.
Her ex-husband John Voulgaris (pictured) says his wife was 'set up' by traffickers
The visitor reception area at Taoyuan Woman's Prison (pictured)
Prisoners are escorted by guards at the prison which mostly holds drug convicts (file image)
Those held at Taoyuan Woman's Prison are only allowed to speak at factory breaks
Inmates at the Taiwanese prison during an activity in one of the classrooms
His cellmates used batteries and toilet paper to light their cigarettes, there were no clocks and watches were banned.
Taiwanese police allege Ms Voulgaris initially 'vehemently denied' knowing about the drugs, before later claiming her ex-husband was behind the scheme.
Mr Voulgaris, who owns a home loan company, told Daily Mail Australia: 'We don't know anything about bloody drugs and have never seen or touched them in our lives!'
He first met the criminals posing as investors 16 years ago and had gone to a Taiwanese bank with them in 2007 as part of their business dealings.
They stayed in contact, but their solicitor had recently reached out to the former couple with a new proposal.
'All we were doing was an overseas investment,' he said.
'They wanted to invest. I sent $3million out of my money.
'When I found out [about her arrest], I tried to get in contact with them but they switched off their phones.
Read More
EXCLUSIVE
Debbie Voulgaris: Ex-husband of mother-of-five accused of smuggling 7kg of cocaine and heroin into Taiwan breaks his silence
Speaking to the ABC this week, Ms Voulgaris' lawyer Leon Huang said it was 'essential' her ex took the stand as he was the only person who could confirm her claims.
He described her as a 'good-natured person' who 'believed people easily' and had been used as a drug 'mule'.
'Based Discount on Viagra's homepage 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.
However, the chances she receives the death penalty are unlikely after Taiwan's Constitutional Court ruled last August that imposing a life sentence or the death penalty for drug offences is partly unconstitutional.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said a detained Australian woman in Taiwan was receiving consular assistance.
TaiwanMelbourneMalaysia
Debbie Voulgaris, 57, has been in a Taiwanese prison since she was arrested at Taoyuan International Airport in December after about $1.25million worth of drugs were allegedly found in black plastic bags inside her suitcase.
Her ex-husband John Voulgaris told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday that she was framed by criminals posing as overseas investors who used her as a drug mule, and stopped taking his calls once she was arrested.
However, local police allege Ms Voulgaris was paid $2,700 to cover her flights and accommodation while she transported the drugs from Malaysia to Taiwan.
She faces death by firing squad if found guilty, but the sentence could be reduced to a lengthy jail sentence.
Until her matter goes back to Taoyuan District Court in August, she will be stuck in jail and barred from speaking to her ex-husband, or her five children in Melbourne.
Debbie Voulgaris (pictured), 57, was arrested at Taoyuan International Airport in December
Ms Voulgaris (pictured) was arrested after drugs were allegedly found in black plastic bags inside her luggage
Taoyuan Woman's Prison (pictured) where inmates are forced to spend the day working in factories
It is likely Ms Voulgaris is being held in Taoyuan Woman's Prison, where inmates are forced to work in factories, are banned from speaking, and have to buy their own blankets.
According to a British government website, there are two or three inmates per cell who each have a foam mattress, but extras have to be purchased from the prison shop.
Talking between detainees is only permitted during breaks, meals are bread and rice and only cater for Chinese palates, and all fruit and vegetables are purchased at the inmate's own expense.
Almost half the inmates at Taoyuan Woman's Prison have committed drug offences.
Ms Voulgaris has been denied visits from family members but can speak with 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 her family in three months, was struggling to adapt to Chinese food and could not speak Chinese.
However, the judges ruled these were 'not factors to be considered when determining the necessity of detention'.
One American expat who spent weeks in Pingtung Detention Center, in the nation's south, previously told the Taipei Times overcrowding was a major issue with only 75 per cent of inmates assigned their own bed.
Her ex-husband John Voulgaris (pictured) says his wife was 'set up' by traffickers
The visitor reception area at Taoyuan Woman's Prison (pictured)
Prisoners are escorted by guards at the prison which mostly holds drug convicts (file image)
Those held at Taoyuan Woman's Prison are only allowed to speak at factory breaks
Inmates at the Taiwanese prison during an activity in one of the classrooms
His cellmates used batteries and toilet paper to light their cigarettes, there were no clocks and watches were banned.
Taiwanese police allege Ms Voulgaris initially 'vehemently denied' knowing about the drugs, before later claiming her ex-husband was behind the scheme.
Mr Voulgaris, who owns a home loan company, told Daily Mail Australia: 'We don't know anything about bloody drugs and have never seen or touched them in our lives!'
He first met the criminals posing as investors 16 years ago and had gone to a Taiwanese bank with them in 2007 as part of their business dealings.
They stayed in contact, but their solicitor had recently reached out to the former couple with a new proposal.
'All we were doing was an overseas investment,' he said.
'They wanted to invest. I sent $3million out of my money.
'When I found out [about her arrest], I tried to get in contact with them but they switched off their phones.
Read More
EXCLUSIVE
Debbie Voulgaris: Ex-husband of mother-of-five accused of smuggling 7kg of cocaine and heroin into Taiwan breaks his silence
Speaking to the ABC this week, Ms Voulgaris' lawyer Leon Huang said it was 'essential' her ex took the stand as he was the only person who could confirm her claims.
He described her as a 'good-natured person' who 'believed people easily' and had been used as a drug 'mule'.
'Based Discount on Viagra's homepage 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.
However, the chances she receives the death penalty are unlikely after Taiwan's Constitutional Court ruled last August that imposing a life sentence or the death penalty for drug offences is partly unconstitutional.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said a detained Australian woman in Taiwan was receiving consular assistance.
TaiwanMelbourneMalaysia
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