Donna Nelson: Family of Perth grandmother concerned for welfare in Japanese prison
The family of a Perth grandmother held in a Japanese prison for alleged drug smuggling have met with Foreign Minister Penny Wong after her trial was delayed.
Donna Nelson, a former Greens candidate and Indigenous community leader, has been in custody since she was arrested at Narita Airport near Tokyo in January 2022.
Authorities allege she imported about 1.9kg of an illegal drug in her luggage, but her family claims she had been the unaware victim of a romance scam.
After a year and a half in custody, Ms Nelson’s trial was due to begin last week but was delayed by Japanese authorities.
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It’s understood no new date has been set after the last-minute request.
Ms Nelson’s daughter, Kristal Hilaire, says her mother fell victim to a romance scam after meeting a Nigerian man on a dating app called AfroIntroductions.
“Mum had plans to meet the man she had fallen in love with, that she’d been speaking to for the last two years, before this happened,” she told 10 News.
Donna Nelson has been held in custody for 18 months in Tokyo. Supplied Credit: Supplied
“There was a big story about who this person was and she believed she knew him.”
Ms Hilaire said her mother was being kept in her cell for 23½ hours a day and had lost about 30kg.
“She’s a very strong-minded person and I think had she not been such a strong person, her physical health probably would have deteriorated a lot more,” she said.
“The hardest part is just not being able to speak to her, not knowing how she’s doing … and not knowing her welfare.”
The Perth grandmother was a former Greens candidate for Western Australia. Supplied Credit: Supplied
In a statement, Senator Wong said her thoughts were with Ms Nelson and her family as they awaited trial.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to her and her family,” Senator Wong said.
“We are also making representations to the Japanese government about her welfare and the legal proceedings.”