Australian Woman Charged with Mischief

The Calgary Police Service has charged an Australian woman with mischief after claiming she was an underage victim of sex trafficking and exploitation.

At approximately 4 p.m., on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014, a woman walked into a northeast health centre and made claims she was a 14-year-old who was the victim of an abduction and prolonged sexual assault. The woman was immediately transported to a local hospital for further treatment, at which point the CPS was called.

Using a false name, Aurora Hepburn, the woman told investigators she’d endured years of violent sexual abuse and torture. For several weeks, investigators and health care workers spent countless hours working with the alleged victim to establish the extent of her abuse and provide services for her recovery.

On Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014, the Service was notified of a similar case that was investigated in 2013 in Dublin, Ireland. Following a lengthy investigation by the Irish Gardai, the woman’s claims were determined to be fake and she was charged.

After liaising with the Gardai, it was determined the woman in Calgary was indeed believed one and the same. She was then taken into police custody and transported to Westwinds Campus where she charged.

Samantha Lyndell AZZOPARDI, 26, originally of Sydney, Australia, is charged with public mischief to mislead peace officer. Due to her multiple aliases, the Service is taking the unusual step of releasing a photo of AZZOPARDI and is asking anyone with information about her movements in Calgary to call police at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers anonymously using any of the following methods:

TALK: 1-800-222-8477
TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org
TEXT: tttTIPS to 274637

Media advisory to follow