 |
| Drug-in-parcel case now in Eastern magistracy, but will likely be moved to a higher court |
By Vir B. Lumicao
A Filipina domestic helper who was arrested last September
for receiving an air parcel containing cocaine purportedly from a friend
overseas will have her case transferred to Eastern Court
Michelle Mardo, a 41-year-old mother of three, was charged
with one count of “trafficking in a dangerous drug” in West Kowloon Court
At the hearing on Jan 14, Magistrate Ada Yim told Mardo she
has the right to apply for legal aid in the Court of First Instance so she can ask
for a preliminary hearing where she can call her own witnesses. She was also advised
to apply for bail in the same court.
Mardo was arrested on Sept 27 after receiving a parcel
containing suspected dangerous drugs that arrived from Ecuador
An officer disguised as a UPS delivery man and other
officers from the Customs and police arrested her. Mardo has been in custody
since her arrest.
Prosecutors said on Jan 14 that they had amended the charge
to show the intercepted parcel contained 418 grams of a solid substance
containing 296.3 grams of pure cocaine.
A Customs and Excise Department had said earlier the illegal
drug was concealed between layers of four wooden boxes that arrived at the Hong Kong International Airport
The defendant was charged initially in Kowloon City Court on
Sept 29, before her case was moved to West
Kowloon Court
Yim adjourned the hearing until Feb 18 in Court 7 in Eastern Court
Suportahan po natin ang ating mga sponsor:
