An Italian flight attendant who was caught with a cannabis joint hidden in her bra has been spared the death penalty by a court in Saudi Arabia.
When she was arrested it was reported that accused Ilaria De Rosa, 23 – from Treviso – was facing a severe punishment that included even a possible death penalty for drug dealing in the kingdom.
But now it has been revealed that she has been given a much more lenient sentence of six months behind bars. She has already spent 40 days in jail on remand.
De Rosa was convicted after pleading not guilty to drug dealing, according to Italian media.
Saudi Arabia’s drugs laws are among the toughest in the world and anyone convicted of drugs offences can potentially be sentenced to death by hanging.
De Rosa – a flight attendant at Lithuanian airline Avion Express – had lived in Saudi for three months before her arrest, when she was reportedly found with a cannabis cigarette in her bra.
Her detention only became known on 8th May after her parents reported her missing to Italian police when they lost contact with her following her arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.
De Rosa – who speaks four languages – was working on flights to Saudi Arabia on a regular basis.
After graduating in Human Sciences at the Liceo Statale in Treviso, she moved to Maastricht in the Netherlands.
She moved on to work for NATO before becoming a flight attendant.
The stunning brunette has posted fantastic snaps from dream destinations all over the world, including Milan, Cuba and the Maldive Islands.
Italian consul general Leonardo Maria Costa says she is in “good physical and psychological condition” despite being shaken by the verdict.
Italian diplomatic sources are quoted in local media saying: “The Italian embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah, in close collaboration with the Farnesina [the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs], are providing all possible assistance to our compatriot.
“Immediately after the sentence, we requested another consular visit to allow the compatriot’s sister to visit her.”
