WA Premier Roger Cook has expressed his concern for an Aboriginal health leader detained in Japan for almost 10 months over drug smuggling allegations.

October 31, 2023

The fate of an Australian grandmother detained in Japan for almost 10 months over drug trafficking allegations remains uncertain.

Aboriginal health leader and former West Australian Greens candidate Donna Nelson was arrested days after travelling to Tokyo in early-January.

Premier Roger Cook spoke with Australia’s Ambassador to Japan Justin Hayhurst on Monday during a trade visit and was updated on Ms Nelson’s case.

“It’s a desperately sad situation, Ms Nelson was obviously a very respected member of the community, particularly in the Aboriginal medical services sector,” Mr Cook told reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday.

“We’re all deeply saddened by the current situation she’s confronting but we hope that she will be able to defend herself effectively in the Japanese courts and we have to acknowledge and respect those processes.”

Ms Nelson’s family has previously said she was the victim of a Nigerian scammer she met through an online dating site who bought tickets for her to fly to Japan.

They believe she may have been forced or tricked into picking up the bag after meeting with an associate of the scammer during the stopover in Laos.

Mr Cook said he had been advised Ms Nelson had legal representation and the embassy was providing as much assistance as it was permitted to give.

“The offences that she’s been charged are very serious and so obviously, it’s a very worrying situation,” he said.

Ms Nelson previously served as chair of Perth-based Aboriginal health service Derbarl Yerrigan.