The daughters of an Australian grandmother who they believe has been duped or forced into carrying drugs into Japan by a complex romance scam say she does not deserve what she’s going through and they just want her home.
Key points:
- Donna Nelson was detained by authorities after arriving in Japan
- She travelled through Laos where she was asked to transport luggage
- Her ongoing detention has left her family distraught and worried
Ballardong Njaki-Njaki woman Donna Nelson is a prominent member of Western Australia’s Aboriginal community and ran as a candidate for the Greens in last year’s federal election.
The much-loved grandmother has been detained for weeks in Japan with no direct contact with her immediate family.
“We just really miss her, her grandchildren really miss her,” Ms Nelson’s eldest daughter Kristal Hilaire said.
“It’s just very difficult trying to process that she’s not here with us right now.”
Ms Nelson’s daughters say she met a man online and had been talking to him for months before agreeing to meet him in Japan in early January.
The family say the scam contained elaborate elements, including sending Ms Nelson an image of a document he claimed was his Japanese residency.
He also claimed to be the owner of a couture brand.
Her daughters witnessed some of her video calls with the man and said his appearance did not raise…
