Rustington woman could face death penalty

Andrea Waldeck, 43, was arrested in April at a hotel in Surabaya in the East Java province for allegedly smuggling 1.5Kg of crystal meth in her underwear.

She is now standing trial which, if she is found guilty of the offence, could see her sentenced to death.

Waldeck is accused of bringing the drugs into the country from China and was allegedly able to get past security by hiding the four plastic packages in her underwear, a national newspaper has reported.

Prosecutors say Waldeck was on her way to meet two members of a drugs gang to carry out a deal when they were intercepted by police.

Waldeck’s trial started on Tuesday (September 24) and is expected to resume next week.

According to the Jakarta Post, Mr Oktavianto said the defendant had violated articles 114 and 112 of the 2009 Narcotics Law, which carries a possible death sentence.

She has allegedly told police that her boyfriend in Guangzhou, China, paid her around £3,000 to traffic the crystal meth.

Although her residence is listed as Guangzhou, Waldeck is originally from Rustington.

Waldeck is expected to give a statement in the next court hearing on Monday (September 30).

For the full story, see next week’s Littlehampton Gazette (Thursday, October 3).