HOME SWEET HOME FOR SCAM VICTIM
A SYDNEY grandmother who fell victim to an internet romance scam and was sentenced to death for drug trafficking in Malaysia has spoken of her relief at coming home and declared: “I learned my lesson.”
Maria Exposto had a tearful reunion with her siblings and children at Sydney Airport yesterday, having touched down on a flight from Kuala Lumpur. The 55-year-old was freed on Tuesday after the full bench of the Federal Appeal Court of Malaysia agreed with her lawyer that she was an innocent dupe and had not known she was carrying drugs.
Wiping tears from her eyes, she told reporters she was struggling for words but was “very happy” to be back home.
She said her first act would be to visit the cemetery to pay respects to her mother, who died while she was in jail.
Branding the internet “evil”, Ms Exposto said she hoped her case could help other scam victims and be a warning to young people.
AUSTRALIAN academic Timothy Weeks is back home after being released by the Taliban in a prisoner swap.
Mr Weeks, a teacher from Wagga Wagga in NSW, was freed from custody in Afghanistan along with his American colleague Kevin King, three years after they were abducted at gunpoint. The 50-year-old arrived at Sydney Airport late on Thursday night.
“I’ve spoken this week to Professor Weeks – that was a very special conversation – and one I’ve been hoping to have for a long time,” Foreign Minister Marise Payne said.