Social media influencer, therapist, business owner Belina Pupa charged with cultivating cannabis crop
An Adelaide social media influencer and therapist has been charged over a massive cannabis empire – as a court hears her co-accused boyfriend has fled the country.
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An internationally recognised social media influencer, therapist, and business owner has faced court charged with growing 43 cannabis plants at a property in Ascot Park – as prosecutors claim her partner, and co-accused, has fled the country.
Belina Pupa, 39, boasts a social media presence of over 80,000 followers across Facebook and Instagram – posting content centred around “helping people of all ages improve their wellbeing, physical and psychological health”.
Ms Pupa, of Semaphore, appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday and is yet to enter any pleas to one count of cultivating a commercial quantity of a controlled drug and one count of interfere with electrical supply without consent.
Ms Pupa, the founder of One Healthy Mind, has ties to Albania and has appeared on a number of TV news segments.
On her website, she describes herself as someone with a “rich background in leading and transforming mental health services both in Albania and South Australia”.
The website further suggests Ms Pupa was a university professor of law in Albania, a real estate and financial associate in the USA, and both a family and school counsellor in Adelaide.
On Tuesday, in front of Magistrate Natalie Browne, defence counsel for Ms Pupa requested a variation to her client’s current bail conditions which would allow her to travel overseas for work related purposes.
“Your Honour, Ms Pupa is a social worker and a therapist with a business that is international – she works with clients all over the world, of Albanian descent mainly,” they said. “Her clientele is based in Albania, America and Australia.
“She travels about three months of the year to go back to Albania while she provides her work on TV.
“She has quite an online presence in relation to her business. Overall, the application is for Ms Pupa to be able to travel to Albania so she can continue her business.”
Court documents, obtained by the Advertiser, allege Ms Pupa cultivated the marijuana between January 1 and April 4 this year.
On Tuesday, prosecutors opposed Ms Pupa’s bail application due to both the seriousness of the charges, and because her partner – a co-accused – was allegedly still on the run.
“We are looking for the defendant’s partner and we have information that suggests he has fled the country,” they said.
Ms Browne adjourned the matter and remanded Ms Pupa on continuing bail to appear again in court next week.
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Originally published as Social media influencer, therapist, business owner Belina Pupa charged with cultivating cannabis crop
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