|
Heard was charged on Thursday with two counts of illegally
importing the pets and one count of producing a false document.
She flew the dogs into the country on a private jet without a
two-week quarantine and permit as required.
If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison
and a fine of $102,000.
The couple drew international attention in May when the
Australian Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce ordered the dogs
returned to the United States or face death.
Joyce accused Depp of smuggling the dogs on his private jet when
he returned to Australia to resume filming "Pirates of the
Caribbean" movie.
"If we start letting movie stars - even though they've been the
sexiest man alive twice — to come into our nation (with pets),
then why don't we just break the laws for everybody?" Joyce said
at the time. "It's time that Pistol and Boo buggered off back to
the United States."
Australia has strict quarantine regulations to prevent diseases
such as rabies from spreading on the arid continent.
(Reporting by Pauline Askin; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
|
