Australian woman facing death penalty appears in Malaysian court

An Australian woman is facing a possible death sentence in Malaysia after she was allegedly caught carrying methamphetamine at Kuala Lumpur airport.

Maria Elvira Pinto Exposto (C) is escorted by Malaysia Customs officer outside the magistrate court in Sepang, near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (AAP)

An Australian woman has appeared in a magistrate's court in Malaysia accused of drug trafficking.

Maria Elvira Pinto Exposto, 52, was allegedly caught with 1.1 kilograms of methamphetamine at Kuala Lumpur airport in December 2014.

The mother-of-four appeared in court yesterday.

Prosecutors said a chemist's report confirmed the substance she had been carrying was crystal methamphetamine, also known as ice.

Magistrate Noor Hafizah Salim ordered the case go to the High Court, AFP reports.

Ms Exposto’s defence team will enter a plea when the case reaches the High Court.

Carrying more than 50 grams of a drug carries a possible death penalty under Malaysian law.