WA Grandmother to Remain Imprisoned in Japan After Appeal Fails
TOKYO – An Australian grandmother,Donna Nelson,will serve a six-year sentence in a Japanese prison after her appeal against a conviction for importing illicit drugs was dismissed by a Tokyo court on Thursday. The 63-year-old western Australian woman was arrested in December 2023 after approximately two kilograms of methamphetamine were found concealed within packages she was carrying at Narita Airport.
The case highlights the severe penalties for drug offenses in Japan and the complex challenges faced by Australians caught in its legal system. Nelson, who maintained she was unaware of the drugs, was targeted in a sophisticated romance scam, believing she was building a relationship with a Nigerian man she met online.Her family is now considering diplomatic avenues to potentially transfer her sentence to Australia, a process that could take years and is not guaranteed.
Prosecutors detailed in court how Nelson was allegedly duped into believing she was traveling to Japan to meet her online partner. Instead, she was intercepted at the airport carrying the concealed narcotics. nelson’s legal team argued she was a victim of manipulation, citing the elaborate scheme orchestrated by the man she knew as ‘Kelly.’
Three of Nelson’s five daughters and several grandchildren traveled to Tokyo to witness the court’s decision. They have expressed hope that the australian government will intervene to facilitate a transfer, allowing Nelson to serve her sentence closer to family support.
Following the ruling,Nelson was returned to prison,where she has been held under strict conditions since her arrest. Authorities continue to search for ‘Kelly,’ the individual believed to be responsible for the scam, who remains at large. The case underscores the growing threat of international romance scams and the devastating consequences they can have on vulnerable individuals.
