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PETALING JAYA: A Malaysian flight attendant who was caught smuggling millions worth of heroin in her underwear last year was jailed in Australia.
The Australian County Court on Thursday (October 8) sentenced Zailee Zainal to nine years and six months in jail.
However, the 40-year-old mother of three will be eligible for parole after she turns three.
According to Australian media, County Court Judge Michael Cahill said Zailee deserved to be shown some leniency as she desperately needed funds to pay for her daughter’s mounting medical bills.
The Australian Border Force caught Zailee in 2019 after millions of dollars worth of heroin was found hidden in her bra and underwear.
The court heard that he was offered A $ 6,500 (RM19,359) to smuggle heroin with a street value of approximately A $ 3,000 (RM8.9 thousand) to Australia.
Judge Cahill said Zailee was desperate to raise money to pay for her daughter’s operations.
“There is a place for the exercise of mercy in sentencing. You felt you had no choice but to commit a crime,” the judge said, as quoted.
Zailee was “deeply sorry” and had written a letter of apology, he noted.
“It is highly unlikely that he will repeat himself,” ABC News quoted the judge as saying.
Zaileel, who worked for Malindo Air, was recruited by a drug syndicate when they discovered she was desperate for money.
The court was told that Zailee had turned to selling brownies and Tupperware to earn a living after withdrawing her mortgage.
After exhausting all other avenues to raise the necessary money, he had applied to the airline for a canvas for donations on his behalf.
An acquaintance, who was aware of the email she sent, approached her and offered her the job as a drug transporter.
“I was vulnerable and in that moment, I was willing to do anything,” Zailee had said in her defense.
The court heard that Zailee had received training for the role.
The training included learning to speak in code and walking confidently with a pack between the legs.
Between October 2018 and January 2019, Zailee had made eight trips to Australia, smuggling a total of more than 4 kg of heroin with a street value of approximately A $ 3,000 (RM8.9 thousand).
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