A British woman who was jailed after she was found with painkillers in her suitcase at an Egyptian airport has been released.
Family handout
Laura Plummer, 34, was sentenced to three years in prison on December 26 2017, she was jailed for taking 290 Tramadol tablets into the country. She claimed the tablets were for her partner to ease his back pain as he suffers from chronic back pain.
Laura Plummer told The Sun: “I’m so happy to be going home.
“I just wish I wasn’t being deported. But I promise you I’ll never set foot in an airport again.”
Ms Plummer’s local MP Karl Turner tweeted he was “delighted” Ms Plummer had been released alongside 6,929 other prisoners. Last year she had lost her appeal against her sentence but the application was put forward again and it was accepted.
Tramadol is a strong painkiller used to treat severe pain and is a banned substance in Egypt.
Laura does not want to be deported as she will only be able to spend a few moments with her Egyptian husband.
Her sister Jayne Synclair, 41, said: “Obviously we’re delighted. We’ve been told she’s got to be deported but she won’t be banned from returning to Egypt.
“It’s bittersweet for Laura. She loves Omar and will get to spend only a few moments with him before she’s put on a plane.
“He’s really upset. Despite everything people have said they love each other and their love has survived this awful ordeal.”
Customs had found the 290 Tramadol pills sitting at the top of her case, they were not hidden or concealed in any way. Laura said she was given the pills by someone she worked with but prosecutors refused to believe her. Supporting evidence that included identity documents for Omar, the couple’s marriage certificate and his medical records and X-rays were flown in to try and release her. They dropped smuggling charges but still prosecuted laura for possession and she was jailed on Boxing day 2017.
