A Sydney grandmother who won her appeal against a death sentence for drug trafficking in Malaysia says she is craving a steak and a glass of wine.

Maria Exposto, who was found carrying more than one kilogram of crystal methamphetamine in 2014, was acquitted on Tuesday after her lawyers argued she was the “perfect text book dummy”.

The 55-year-old had been so naive, her defence team argued, that when customs officers found the drug ice in her backpack she expressed concern that the “ice” would have “melted”.

After nearly five years in jail and 18 months on death row, Ms Exposto intends on “going out to eat a steak and drink some wine because those five years I did not have any”, she told reporters after being officially released from custody.

The mother of four was immediately taken to the immigration office to arrange exit papers ahead of her expected flight out to Sydney.

“I’m thrilled. I’m very happy because I can go home to my family,” she said.

Ms Exposto is led into court at an earlier appearance. Photo: EPA

Her son Hugo said his family was delighted with the decision and that they “had just tried to take it one day at a time and do everything we can” throughout the five-year ordeal.

Asked if his mother had ever lost her optimism, he said: “No, never.”

The court found she was the victim of an internet scam whereby she was duped by a man who asked her to take a black backpack, which Ms Exposto believed contained only clothes, to Melbourne shortly before her scheduled departure.

“I’d send him to fly to hell on a one-way ticket…I learned my lesson, please guys think before you help other people,” she said outside of court.

In December 2014, customs officials at Kuala Lumpur International Airport found Ms Exposto with drugs in that backpack.

Ms Exposto leaves the courthouse following drug charges trial at the Federal Court in Putrajaya, outside Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Getty

In the Federal Appeal Court of Malaysia on Tuesday there were sighs of relief from friends and family as the chief judge of Malaysia, Tengku Maimum Binti Tuan Mat, delivered the unanimous findings by a full bench of five judges.

In exonerating Ms Exposto, the judge said it was proven she had no knowledge of the drugs and was an innocent carrier, adding: “This is not enough to hang someone.”

Ms Exposto was escorted into court shackled, wearing a purple blouse, short black hair and thick rimmed glasses. She sat motionless as defence lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah argued a lower court had erred in their findings and in sentencing her to hang.

“Her behaviour was totally consistent with innocence,” Mr Shafee told the judges.

When told by customs officials at Kuala Lumpur airport that the lining of the bag she was carrying contained ice, Mr Shafee told the court that Ms Exposto’s response was “it can’t be”.

She thought they meant frozen water not crystal methamphetamine, also known as ice.

The defence had argued Ms Exposto was the victim of an internet romance scam initiated by a man who identified himself as “Captain Daniel Smith,” a US soldier stationed in Afghanistan, a widower whose wife had died in a car accident, and the father of a teenage son.

“This affected her heart and she fell in love with him,” Mr Shafee said.

Ms Exposto previously said innocence will save her from mounting a Malaysian gallows. Photo: AAP

He said the scam had lasted a couple of years and Ms Exposto had even sent money to “Smith” before flying to Shanghai.

Once there they would meet and he asked her to help him lodge documents for his retirement from the military.

“She thought happiness was in front of her, once she lodged those documents. Then her life was turned upside down,” Mr Shafee said.

“Smith” did not show up in China but an American who claimed to be his friend followed her in Shanghai.

Mr Shafee noted that Ms Exposto volunteered the bag for a search at KL airport and after the drugs were discovered she spoke freely, without advice from a lawyer or the Australian High Commission.

Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne in a statement thanked consular officers and Ms Exposto’s legal team for securing her release.

“We will continue to provide all appropriate consular assistance and support, with a focus on ensuring Ms Exposto can be reunited with her family as soon as possible.”

-with AAP