Oldest alleged drug dealer in Australia, 82-year-old Effie Pehlivanidis too sick to attend court
An 82-year-old alleged drug dealer has told a court she’s too ill to face legal proceedings, as prosecutors reveal her alleged drug trafficking involved multiple states.
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An elderly grandmother charged with major drug trafficking who claims she’d never touched a drug in her life is struggling with deteriorating health concerns that make her aggressive, a court has heard.
On Wednesday, Eudoxia ‘Effie’ Pehlivanidis’s lawyer Yasmin McMahon told the Adelaide Magistrates Court her client was suffering from deteriorating dementia, and attending court would be too overwhelming for her.
“It is difficult to get her into the setting like the court,” she said.
Ms McMahon told the court her 82-year-old client could be “aggressive” if forced to come to court in person.
Magistrate Ben Sale said that people charged with such significant matters who are on bail are normally required to attend, but prosecution counsel didn’t object Ms Pehlivanidis’ absence.
“I’m not seeking to make any audits,” prosecution counsel said.
In February, South Australian detectives from the Serious and Organised Crime Branch armed police raided Ms Pehlivanidis’ home in Flinders Park.
Ms Pehlivanidis and her grandson Kosta, 30, were arrested as part of an investigation into the attempted importation of 8kg of cocaine.
After her arrest, Ms Pehlivanidis told 7 News she didn’t know why police arrested her, and she’d never touched any drugs.
“Never! Never smoked, never nothing,” she said.
The court heard prosecutors needed six months before they could determine charges against Ms Pehlivanidis and her co-accused grandson Kosta Pehlivanidis because the matter involved police from different states.
“The reason for a long period is that it does involve cross agency between New South Wales Police and SAPOL,” prosecution counsel said.
“There is also likely to be drug analysis and DNA related evidence.
“It’s slightly more complicated than most ordinary drug trafficking.”
She previously told 7 NEWS there was a box, allegedly found by police containing drugs, but didn’t know what was in it.
“It’s just a box with sticks,” she said.
“I don’t know (if it was delivered) by the post office man or a different man.”
The two were charged with attempting to traffic in a large commercial quantity of cocaine.
They will remain on bail to face court again in October.
Originally published as Oldest alleged drug dealer in Australia, 82-year-old Effie Pehlivanidis too sick to attend court
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