ALARM AS HOLIDAY BRITON IS CAGED IN ‘HELL’ JAIL
BRITISH tourist Laura Plummer was beginning a three-year jail term in Egypt yesterday after she admitted smuggling banned painkillers.
The shop worker from Hull is now said to be detained in a rancid cell with hardened female criminals after her sentencing on Boxing Day.
The 33-year-old was arrested after being caught with 290 Tramadol tablets which she said were for her Egyptian boyfriend Omar Caboo who suffers with a bad back.
She was imprisoned near the Red Sea resort of Hurghada after she “accidentally” confessed after misunderstanding a judge’s question.
But her family, who plan to immediately appeal the conviction, said Miss Plummer only meant to admit possessing the drug and not that she knowingly smuggled the pills.
Her mother Roberta Synclair, who flew out for the hearing, yesterday vowed to fight for her release.
“This is not fair,” she said. “She has done it in all innocence. She brought the drugs to help someone. I’m so frightened for her. I’m still in shock after today’s verdict.”
Laura’s lawyer Dia al-Bassal said: “She meant she is admitting she had the Tramadol but not admitting of being guilty.
“The judge jumped to the conclusion she confesses before clarifying that she understood the question.”
Laura’s sister Rachel said: “My mum is obviously devastated. She is out there by herself.
“We are just hoping. Even half of that would be better – anything less than three years.”
Another sister Jayne said before the sentence Laura had been suicidal while being held in a 15ft square cell with 25 women.
It has also been claimed that jail staff have shown little sympathy for someone who the Egyptian media are calling the “Tramadol Tourist”.
Jayne said: “She is a target in there because she’s a foreigner. She was being kicked and punched until apparently the cell leader started watching her. If she ever makes it out of there I will be amazed. She will probably be dead if she has to stay in there for three years.”
Witnesses at court said Mr Caboo appeared “very sad” after the sentence was delivered, while Laura cried so heavily that her mother had to calm her down.
Laura’s father Neville said his daughter is “on the verge of a breakdown”.
“The family are all absolutely devastated,” he said. “But we have to stay strong for Laura.”
Laura’s MP Karl Turner said the ruling had already been raised with Egyptian authorities by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.
“I am hopeful that good sense will eventually prevail,” he said.
“This is a decent woman who has made a terrible mistake, who should not be incarcerated in any prison, never mind an Egyptian prison.”
Laura was held on October 9 after flying to Hurghada for a holiday with the tablets in her luggage.
Lawyers at one point claimed she could face the death penalty.
They still say she could be handed a two-year term even if cleared of knowingly trafficking a banned drug.
The sentence can be changed as her case progresses through the Egyptian courts, but it is expected to take at least a month for the second stage to begin.
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: “We will continue to provide assistance to Laura and her family following the court ruling in Egypt.
“Our embassy is in regular contact with the Egyptian authorities.”