Saturday February 16, 2013

Aussie jailed for importing drugs from Malaysia

MELBOURNE: For ex-Australian teacher Karen Beresford who became a “mature-age” escort provider in Malaysia, the party was over when the 61-year-old was nabbed by the Australian authorities for importing the party drug “ice” six years ago.

She was stopped at the Melbourne Airport in November 2007 upon arrival from Malaysia with 186.6g of pure methamphetamine in two containers of hair products.

The drug had an estimated street value of between A$52,800 (RM169,306) and A$93,300 (RM299,172).

For importation of the drug, Beresford was jailed for a maximum of two years and nine months on Thursday and ordered to be released after having served 14 months of sentence.

After that, she will be required to be on good behaviour for 33 months.

The Age Online reported that the County Court here was told that she had earned an international reputation while working as a teacher at a college in South Australia.

Chief Judge Michael Rozenes heard that her dismissal from the college in 2000 led to her working as a social escort in Kuala Lumpur, where she began taking “ice” and became psychologically addicted to the drug.

Rozenes said a psychologist’s report on Beresford detailed the “traumatic setbacks” in her business and professional life after her dismissal.

Following her detention at the Melbourne Airport, a warrant for her arrest was issued on Feb 8, 2010, when she failed to appear in court to answer charges.

She was taken into custody last October while attempting to leave Australia for Kuala Lumpur with a passport in her maiden name.

In sentencing, Rozenes said Beresford had no previous convictions and had made a “worthwhile contribution to the community through hard work and endeavour”.

The former teacher pleaded guilty to a charge of importing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug. — Bernama

News

Saturday February 16, 2013

Aussie jailed for importing drugs from Malaysia