The staggering amount taxpayers are forking out for ‘Cocaine Cassie’s' legal costs
Adelaide woman Cassie Sainsbury has admitted to trying to smuggle cocaine out of Colombia - but perhaps even more startling than this admission is the amount that Australian taxpayers have forked out so far to fund her legal defence.
A deal on jail time had already been negotiated, with the judge signing off on a six year deal for her confession to attempting to smuggle 6kg of cocaine out of Bogota in April.
If she behaves behind bars and works hard, the woman dubbed 'Cocaine Cassie' could be free in less than three years.
"Is she lucky to get a deal like this? Yes, because the amount of drugs is very, very big," her lawyer Orlando Herran said.
The Australian Government won't cover Sainsbury's fine, but 7 News has revealed the first round of taxpayer dollars was sent to her Colombian lawyer in the past fortnight.
The bill for five months' worth of help now totals more than $100,000.
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Sainsbury is now a convicted drug smuggler who has escaped decades in jail thanks to the Australian public's help.
Her legal team in Colombia maintains she deserves help from her countrymen.
"These people are just victims of bigger criminals," Herran said.
It isn't the first time Australians have picked up the bill for those facing jail time overseas.
Convicted drug smugglers Schapelle Corby, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran also had part of their legal bills covered by the taxpayer under the same scheme, which supports Australians facing serious charges overseas and more than 20 years' jail time.
