01 Romance Scam | Who is Donna Nelson?

2025-09-16

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Perth woman Donna Nelson said she was going to Japan to meet the man she was going to marry. Instead, she was arrested at a Tokyo airport, carrying two kilograms of methamphetamine.While Japanese prosecutors say Donna was a drug mule, her family says she was the victim of a prolonged romance scam. Later this month, judges will deliver their judgement on Donna Nelson's appeal — her last chance to clear her name and return to Australia.Stephen Stockwell is joined by North Asia Correspondent J...

Perth woman Donna Nelson said she was going to Japan to meet the man she was going to marry. Instead, she was arrested at a Tokyo airport, carrying two kilograms of methamphetamine.

While Japanese prosecutors say Donna was a drug mule, her family says she was the victim of a prolonged romance scam. Later this month, judges will deliver their judgement on Donna Nelson's appeal — her last chance to clear her name and return to Australia.

Stephen Stockwell is joined by North Asia Correspondent James Oaten and Australian Story producer Olivia Rousset to cover Donna Nelson's case. In our first episode, we talk through who Donna Nelson was, and how she ended up with the drug-filled bag.

If you have any questions you'd like James, Olivia and Stocky to answer in future episodes, please email thecaseof@abc.net.au.

The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of.

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