This is 34-year old Melbourne nurse Emma Louise L'Aiguille who is facing a possible death sentence for alleged drug trafficking in Malaysia.
She is now detained in a women's prison until October 1, charged with drug trafficking, and the only sentence is the death penalty.
Emma says she did not know the drugs were in the vehicle she was driving. Her mother, Amanda Innes, told Australian ABC local radio she fears for her daughter's life and pleaded for her not to be executed.
Okay. That's the story. She is innocent until proven guilty. But the related story goes like this:
An opposition pressure group and its NGOs are already in contact with the Australian opposition party, offering help to get her out of the country.
Some quarters Down Under too had contacted a few people in Malaysia for her dismissal from any charges and trial. They believe that the Malaysian authority is holding her wrongly and that the Nigerian is the right person to prosecute as Africans are 'master of the drug trades'.
Diplomatically, its good but not politically. Malaysia had never asked any favor from Canberra to give special treatment to any Malaysian caught peddling illicit drugs in the country and as far as I can recall, Australia too had never done the same.
But Malaysia is very close to holding its general election. A few people in the opposition camp are trying to garner foreign support for its plan to take over Putrajaya. Whether it is possible or not, the Home Ministry, Bukit Aman and the Atorney-General Chamber will feel the heat soon when the pressure groups politicise the case.
After all, some Aussie politicians, especially from within the opposition have been throwing their support for Pakatan Rakyat, as had been showcased in some incidents, and this time they are banking a high hope for Emma's release.
We will soon hear from PR spokeperson. Later on from Suaram and NGOs of the same pool.
Emma will have to face charges and stand trial. We will let the law takes its own course. If she is clean, she will be acquitted.
Nobody should intervene unless he or she produces the best lawyer to represent her. Manipulating the issue will bear no fruit. And about the Nigerian?
I also hope she is not guilty...