Amber Heard CHARGED after illegally smuggling dogs into Australia on Johnny Depp's jet
AMBER HEARD has been charged with illegally bringing her two dogs - Pistol and Boo - into Australia on Johnny Depp's private jet, it's been reported.
Amber has been charged with illegally smuggling dogs into Australia
The actress was charged this week with two counts of illegally importing Pistol and Boo into Australia and one count of producing a false document, the Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecutions revealed earlier today.
The importation charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of 102,000 Australian dollars ($75,000).
The false document charge, which relates to information on an incoming passenger card, carries a penalty of up to one year in prison and a fine of AU $10,200.
It was reported earlier this week that Amber had been ordered to appear in a Queensland court on September 7.
Amber and her dogs hit headlines earlier this year
Johnny with one of his pet pups
Her lawyers could petition the court to appear on her behalf, but given the seriousness of the charge, it's likely she'll need to appear in person.
Even if she is convicted though, Johnny Depp's wife is unlikely to face a lengthy jail term since the dogs were flown back to the US before a 72-hour deadline, Bill Potts, a criminal defense attorney based in the Queensland capital, Brisbane, said.
"The seriousness of the offense is not whether two little puppies - who look like they could give you a nasty nip on the ankle - are dreadful animals, it's about the risk to biosecurity," Potts said.
"Was there a risk? Potentially, but not actually. And I'm sure the court will take all of those things into account."
Amber was issued a summons to appear in a Queensland court on September 7
Australia has strict quarantine regulations to prevent diseases such as rabies from spreading to its shores.
Bringing pets into the country involves applying for a permit and quarantine on arrival of at least 10 days.
The dog drama kicked off in May, with Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce threatening to euthanise the pups at the time, unless the couple flew them back to the US.
Joyce dismissed suggestions on Thursday that charging the actress made Australia look mean.
"The law is the same for everybody," he told reporters in the western city of Perth. "There is no preferential treatment here. You come into our nation, you have to abide biosecurity protocols."
Amber flew the dogs into Oz on husband Johnny Depp's private jet