Filipina domestic worker faces drug trafficking charges

A Filipina domestic worker faced eight additional charges of drug trafficking and possession at the Eastern Magistrates’ Court on Thursday instead of the original three charges.

Michelle Dabao was arrested in October last year while allegedly carrying an unspecified amount of dangerous drugs and equipment to take drugs, sunwebhk.com reported.

She was initially charged with one count each of “trafficking in a dangerous drug,” “possession of a dangerous drug” and “possession of apparatus fit for the inhalation of a dangerous drug.”

On January 24, the prosecution dropped the third charge but added eight new charges, including alleged trafficking or possession of various small amounts of drugs, mostly methamphetamine but on one count heroin, which was reported to have happened on various dates between October 2 to October 18 last year.

Magistrate Peter Law approved.

The defendant broke into tears when the first additional charge was read to her. “I don’t understand why you adding that October 2 charge against me,” she butted in, but the interpreter continued reading the other charges.

No plea was taken and the magistrate set the next hearing for March 4.