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Husband of UK woman held in Egypt 'has evidence to prove her innocence' Husband of UK woman held in Egypt 'has evidence to prove her innocence'
(about 3 hours later)
The husband of a British woman being held in Egypt on drug smuggling charges has reportedly produced evidence he believes could lead to her release.The husband of a British woman being held in Egypt on drug smuggling charges has reportedly produced evidence he believes could lead to her release.
Laura Plummer, 33, from Hull, had been due to appear in court on Saturday before the delay was revealed. She was arrested at Hurghada airport on 9 October after 29 strips of the painkillers tramadol and naproxen were found in her suitcase.Laura Plummer, 33, from Hull, had been due to appear in court on Saturday before the delay was revealed. She was arrested at Hurghada airport on 9 October after 29 strips of the painkillers tramadol and naproxen were found in her suitcase.
Tramadol, an opioid, is a controlled substance in Egypt, and Plummer faces a long prison sentence if convicted of smuggling the drugs. Plummer said she had no idea of the legal issues surrounding the painkillers, which she brought over for her Egyptian husband’s bad back.Tramadol, an opioid, is a controlled substance in Egypt, and Plummer faces a long prison sentence if convicted of smuggling the drugs. Plummer said she had no idea of the legal issues surrounding the painkillers, which she brought over for her Egyptian husband’s bad back.
“I didn’t even look in the bag. I can’t tell you how stupid I feel,” she told the BBC in a phone call from her 15ft by 15ft cell in which she said 25 other women were also being held.“I didn’t even look in the bag. I can’t tell you how stupid I feel,” she told the BBC in a phone call from her 15ft by 15ft cell in which she said 25 other women were also being held.
A judge in Hurghada, a resort town on Egypt’s Red Sea coast, will decide whether to extend Plummer’s detention or free her on bail. The hearing could take place on Sunday.A judge in Hurghada, a resort town on Egypt’s Red Sea coast, will decide whether to extend Plummer’s detention or free her on bail. The hearing could take place on Sunday.
Her husband, Omar Caboo, 34, showed the Sun evidence that he said supported her claim to have brought the drugs into Egypt for his back problems. Plummer’s MP, Karl Turner, told the Press Association: “Omar, the partner of Laura, has come forward with evidence to show that he did indeed suffer with back pain – various medical certificates and scans which prove that it was true.” Turner said the Egyptian lawyer acting for Plummer is confident that the evidence will help her case as it confirms her version of events.
Among the documents are X-rays, medical records and a marriage certificate. The couple reportedly met four years ago. “Hopefully now her nightmare will come to an end,” Caboo said. “These papers will prove she was telling the truth.” Among the documents are x-rays, medical records and a marriage certificate. The couple reportedly met four years ago. “Hopefully now her nightmare will come to an end,” her husband Omar Caboo, 34, said. “These papers will prove she was telling the truth.”
Her brother, James Plummer, previously had said her family had been told she could face up to 25 years in jail, with one lawyer even mentioning the death penalty. Plummer’s lawyer is understood to have acted for British citizens in Egypt before.
The MP added: “Tramadol is a controlled class C drug in the UK, and is banned entirely in Egypt because it’s a recreation drug of choice … they are desperate to stamp it out.”
Turner said Plummer’s father put it well when he said his daughter “wouldn’t know a tramadol from a Panadol”, adding: “They weren’t concealed, they were laid on top of clothing. Clearly she’d not gone to any attempt to conceal them. She didn’t realise they were illegal.”
Her brother, James Plummer, had previously said her family had been told she could face up to 25 years in jail, with one lawyer even mentioning the death penalty.
“It’s just blown out of proportion completely,” he said. “She’s so by the book, so routine, she just likes her own home comforts, watches Emmerdale every night or things like that, going to bed at nine o’clock every night.”“It’s just blown out of proportion completely,” he said. “She’s so by the book, so routine, she just likes her own home comforts, watches Emmerdale every night or things like that, going to bed at nine o’clock every night.”
He said his sister just thought she was doing a “good deed” by bringing the medication over to her husband, which she had been given by a colleague in Hull whom she had told about her husband’s back pain. He said his sister just thought she was doing a “good deed” by bringing the medication, which she had been given by a colleague in Hull whom she had told about her husband’s back pain.
Tramadol is the most abused drug in Egypt, according to a government minister. The synthetic opioid is only available on prescription but is often obtained illegally and used as a heroin substitute, as it is elsewhere in the world.Tramadol is the most abused drug in Egypt, according to a government minister. The synthetic opioid is only available on prescription but is often obtained illegally and used as a heroin substitute, as it is elsewhere in the world.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said its officials were “supporting a British woman and her family following her detention in Egypt”.A Foreign Office spokeswoman said its officials were “supporting a British woman and her family following her detention in Egypt”.