A woman found guilty of trying to smuggle nearly $20,000 worth of cannabis into Bermuda is appealing against her conviction.

Valisa Holder was pregnant when she was arrested at L.F. Wade International Airport with 1.1 kilograms of the drug inside an air mattress in her suitcase.

The mother of two stood trial last year and was convicted on November 30 by Magistrate Tyrone Chin, who remanded her into custody.

The court heard that she was arrested at the airport after arriving on a plane from Atlanta, and told customs officers she had brought in an air mattress for a friend’s daughter, which prompted them to check her luggage.

Mr Chin rejected her story after hearing evidence from police, customs officers and the friend.

An appeal against conviction was filed immediately and Holder was subsequently released on bail.

Appeals to the Supreme Court are expected to be heard and ruled on within six months of a conviction but it is understood that Holder’s law firm, Kairos, has only just received the official record of her Magistrates’ Court trial. A hearing date for the appeal is now expected to be set.

• It is The Royal Gazette’s policy not to allow comments on stories regarding criminal court cases. This is to prevent any statements being published that may jeopardise the outcome of that case.