Why Australia’s oldest alleged drug trafficker, 82, involved in a cocaine plot with her grandson may not be able to come to court: ‘Aggressive’
- Eudoxia Pehlivanidis, 82, is said to have trafficked drugs
- Adelaide’s grandmother suffers from dementia
- Lawyer said she would be “aggressive” if she had to go to court
An elderly grandmother accused of major drug dealing who claims she has never touched a drug in her life is battling deteriorating health issues that are making her aggressive, a court has heard.
On Wednesday, Eudoxia ‘Effie’ Pehlivanidis’ lawyer, Yasmin McMahon, told the Adelaide Magistrates Court that her client suffered from worsening dementia and that attending court would be too overwhelming for her.
“It’s hard to get her into the setting like court,” she said.
Ms McMahon told the court that her 82-year-old client could be “aggressive” if forced to come to court in person.
Magistrate Ben Sale said people charged with such important matters and released on bail are normally required to attend, but counsel for the prosecution had no objection to Ms Pehlivanidis’ absence.
“I do not intend to conduct audits,” the prosecutor said.
Eudoxia ‘Effie’ Pehlivanidis, 82, (pictured) suffers from worsening dementia. Her lawyer claimed Ms Pehlivanidis is too ill to attend court and could be ‘aggressive’ if forced to
The 82-year-old grandmother (pictured) has denied knowing anything about cocaine in her possession
In February, South Australian armed police detectives from the Serious and Organized Crime Branch raided the home of Ms Pehlivanidis in Flinders Park.
Ms. Pehlivanidis and her grandson Kosta, 30, were arrested as part of an investigation into the attempted importation of 8 kg of cocaine.
After her arrest, Ms. Pehlivanidis told 7News that she did not know why the police arrested her and that she had never touched drugs.
‘Never! Never smoked, never nothing,’ she said.
The court heard that prosecutors needed six months before they could set charges against Ms. Pehlivanidis and her co-defendant grandson Kosta Pehlivanidis because the case involved police from several states.
“The reason for a long period of time is that there is an interaction between the New South Wales Police and SAPOL,” the prosecutor said.
“There is probably also drug analysis and DNA-related evidence.
“It’s a little more complicated than most run-of-the-mill drug dealing.”
Her grandson Kosta Pehlivanidis, 30, (pictured) was also arrested as part of an investigation into the attempted importation of 8kg of cocaine following a raid on their Flinders Park home.
Kosta attends the Adelaide Magistrates Court by himself on April 11 (pictured). His grandmother was too ill to go
She previously told 7News that there was a box, allegedly found by police, containing drugs, but she did not know what was inside.
“It’s just a box of chopsticks,” she said.
“I don’t know (whether it was delivered) by the postman or some other man.”
The two were charged with attempted trafficking of a large commercial quantity of cocaine.
They remain free on bail to appear in court again in October.