'Latin American Idol' winner gets 1 year in jail in drug case

Martha Heredia drug case: The Dominican singer is escorted under police custody to a courthouse after her arrest at the Cibao international airport in Santiago. IMAGE

Reuters. Martha Heredia drug case: The Dominican singer is escorted under police custody to a courthouse after her arrest at the Cibao international airport in Santiago. IMAGE

2/25/13

Martha Heredia, 22, is a Dominican singer who won the fourth season of "Latin American Idol." Heredia was arrested Wednesday for allegedly smuggling heroin.

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."

Getty Images: Gustavo Caballero. Martha Heredia drug case: The singer was the 2009 winner of the TV talent show "Latin American Idol." IMAGE

The 22-year-old was arrested at a Dominican airport Wednesday as she was about to board a flight to New York. Police allege she had 2.9 pounds 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 long preventive detention.

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