A colourful US tourist with distinctive face tattoos has been hit with another charge and given two weeks to enter pleas after she allegedly smuggled a 24-karat gold gun into Australia in her suitcase.
Liliana Goodson was arrested at Sydney airport on the afternoon of April 23 after Australian Border Force allegedly found a golden handgun hidden in her hand luggage.
Police allege an X-ray machine at the busy airport detected the gun inside Ms Goodson’s hand luggage after she flew into the country from Los Angeles.
The weapon is a gold-plated Colt 45-style pistol with pearl inlay, which is estimated to be valued at more than $2000. It was not loaded when it was seized by the authorities.
ABF officials claim Ms Goodson does not have a permit to import or carry the gun, which is unregistered.
The 28-year-old was in custody for more than two weeks after she was charged with importing an unauthorised illegal firearm.
She was granted bail and released on May 8 on the condition that she deposit a surety of $10,000.
Ms Goodson sat at the back of Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday as she waited for her solicitor Bryan Wrench to come into court.
She told the court she had attempted to contact him but said she had not heard from Mr Wrench, who usually emails her the day before a court date.
The court was told Ms Goodson has been hit with a second charge and is now facing two counts of importing an unauthorised illegal firearm.
Magistrate Julie Huber adjourned the matter for two weeks, warning Ms Goodson to get in contact with her lawyer as she must enter pleas on the next occasion.
As part of her bail conditions, the colourfully decorated tourist was forced to surrender the passport she used to enter the country and is prohibited from applying for a replacement.
If convicted of the offence, Ms Goodson is facing a maximum of 10 years behind bars.
She is also facing the possibility of visa cancellation or deportation if found guilty.
Ms Goodson will face court again later this month.