'Barbie Bandit' Avoids Charges Over Alleged Argentina House Raids
Georgia Wawman, also known as the "Barbie Bandit," avoided possible charges on alleged Argentina house raids after officials questioned her for eight hours and found nothing that connected her to the crime, per The Guardian. Wawman, who was staying at the residence of her former boyfriend and father of her child, was maltreated by police officers who came to the house one early morning.
Laurence de Mello, Wawman's legal guardian said, "It was a large group of police, three of whom -- one a woman -- maltreated her. It was a total abuse of police power." He also added that they expected a better treatment for someone far from home, has a two-year-old son and is facing an unusual circumstance.
A native of Great Bedwyn near Marlborough and daughter of a successful British director and producer, Wawman lived in Argentina for two years and has the support of the British Embassy. Citing the agency's support and their quick action to call the court and the police gave strength to Wawman. A legal source provided details of Wawman's predicament saying, "There's been an investigation in recent months into the activities of three different gangs operating in the area but Wawman was never a part of that investigation."
Wawman maintained her innocence of the alleged house raids saying, "I'm entirely innocent, yet the world now knows me as the Barbie Bandit. I've been set up and humiliated by the police and my life is ruined. Anyone who knows me will tell you I wouldn't say boo to a goose."
The extent of Wawman's alleged participation on the crimes led her to be featured on several newspapers in the U.K. and Argentina, showing photos of her and with fake police uniforms, guns and ammunitions. A legal source also confirmed that Wawman was detained for eight hours before the case was dropped.
According to The Telegraph, Wawman, 26, along with other eight gang members including her ex-boyfriend Jose Mino, 32, were arrested. However, she claimed that she was arrested by mistake when her ex-boyfriend's house was raided by authorities.
Wawman now considers returning to Britain after she gets legal papers that will allow her to bring her child back to England. An embassy spokesperson released a statement regarding Wawman's case saying, "We were in contact with a British national following their arrest in Buenos Aires to provide assistance," per The Guardian.
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