Dominican singer who won TV talent show to be jailed for year on suspicion of heroin smuggling
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic - A judge in the Dominican Republic says the winner of a TV talent show can be held in jail for up to a year while authorities investigate her alleged involvement in drug smuggling.
Martha Heredia is a Dominican singer who was the 2009 winner of the TV talent show "Latin American Idol."
The 22-year-old was arrested at a Dominican airport on Wednesday as she was about to board a flight to New York. Police allege she had 2.9 pounds (1.3 kilograms) of heroin stuffed in the heels of three pairs of platform shoes.
On Monday, Judge Deyanira Vasquez ruled that Heredia can be held for a year in jail.
No charges have been filed, but the Dominican legal systems allows for lengthy preventative detention.
