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Australian jailed in Taiwan: Mum's prison hell revealed
4 Jan
Summary
- A 58-year-old Australian woman is jailed for 15 years in Taiwan.
- She sleeps on the floor in a cell shared with 16 other women.
- Her family insists she is innocent and was set up by scammers.

Debbie Voulgaris, a 58-year-old Australian mother of five, is enduring a grim 15-year prison sentence in Taiwan for drug smuggling. Caught with approximately $1.9 million worth of illicit substances at Taoyuan International Airport in December 2023, she initially pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty but maintains her innocence. Her family believes she was deceived by African scammers targeting her ex-husband.
The harsh conditions of her confinement are being brought to light by her heartbroken children. Ms. Voulgaris shares a minuscule cell with 16 other women, sleeping on the floor and facing punishments for minor infractions, such as wearing a shirt inside out or forgetting slippers. Her daughter, Maria, described her mother's constant fear and emotional distress, compounded by infrequent and tense video calls.




