Amber Heard escapes a significant legal clash after the charges against her for bringing dogs to Australia were dropped, just a year subsequent to a humiliating loss in the lawsuit against her ex-partner Johnny Depp.
The Aquaman actress will not face prosecution regarding the 2015 charges concerning the illicit import of her two dogs, Pistol and Boo. This decision was conveyed by the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture.
According to a statement issued, "The department collaborated with agencies, both in Australia and overseas, to investigate these allegations against Ms. Heard."
"A dossier of evidence was referred to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, who has opted not to pursue prosecution in this instance, adhering to the Prosecution Policy of the Commonwealth," it further stated.
For those unfamiliar with the case, in 2015, while married to Depp at the time, Heard traveled to Australia to visit him during the filming of a sequel to Pirates of the Caribbean. She was accompanied by their two dogs. Australia maintains stringent quarantine regulations to prevent disease, necessitating permits for bringing pets into the country.
The dogs, which were placed in Heard's custody after her separation from Depp, evaded customs, thereby bypassing mandatory quarantine and permits.
Heard was formally charged in July 2015 and subsequently entered a not guilty plea in December of the same year.
While unable to discuss the ongoing court proceedings, Heard expressed her respect for Australia's laws, stating, "My decision to challenge these charges does not seek to undermine the importance of Australia's laws. This will become evident within the appropriate court setting," as relayed by her attorney, according to NBC News.
Under Australia's strict biosecurity laws, the charges carried the potential for a 10-year prison sentence and a $75,000 fine. The charge related to falsifying documents held a penalty of a year in prison and a $7,500 fine.
