Israeli Hodaya Monsonego released from prison to house arrest in Peru
Hodaya, 24, who is cognitively impaired, faces criminal charges of smuggling narcotics after she was found with 28 kg. of cocaine in her luggage.
By ALEX WINSTONHodaya Monsonego(photo credit: COURTESY/MAARIV)
Israeli citizen Hodaya Monsonego, who has been jailed in Peru for 10 months on charges of drug smuggling, was released from prison to house arrest, Peru's court decided on Sunday.Monsonego, 24, who is cognitively impaired, faces criminal charges of smuggling narcotics after she was found with 28 kg. of cocaine in her luggage.Her family claims that smugglers took advantage of her because of her cognitive impairment. They have said that she was accompanying a friend on a trip to South America and was helping take care of the friend’s children, aged eight and nine.Before their journey home, Monsonego needed to replace her damaged suitcase, so her friend bought one for her. According to Monsonego’s family, it was in this suitcase that the drugs were placed.Tehila, Hodaya's sister, told KAN News Sunday morning: "We are so happy! We talked to Hodaya, and she is excited; she feels and sounds just fine. We do not know many details, but as far as we are concerned, we are working on the pardon request."Israeli President Reuven Rivlin thanked the Peruvian authorities on his official Twitter account for allowing Monsonego's release from prison, expressing hope that house arrest is a "step towards her full release soon."
Thank you to the Peruvian authorities for their response to my request regarding Hodaya Monsongo. I hope this is a step towards her full release soon.
