Painkiller smuggling Brit to be freed after 'nightmare ordeal' in Egypt jail
A BRITISH woman jailed for smuggling painkillers into Egypt was expected to be freed this weekend after being pardoned by the country’s president.
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Relatives of 33-year-old Laura Plummer have flown to Cairo to await confirmation of her release.
They are overjoyed that her three-year sentence has been waived as part of the celebrations to mark Egypt’s revolution seven years ago.
Miss Plummer was jailed after admitting she took 290 Tramadol tablets into the country for her Egyptian partner Omar Caboo, also 33.
The tablets, for Mr Caboo’s bad back, are legal in Britain but are banned in Egypt because they have addictive qualities.
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi issued the pardon just a week after the Hull shop worker told her family she was so miserable at notorious Qanater prison that she wanted to die.
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She’s been through a nightmare and will be scarred by her ordeal
Her older sister Jayne Synclair, 40, said: “We can’t believe it’s over. We’ve prayed for this day since she was arrested. We just want to get her home.
“She’s been through a nightmare and will be scarred by her ordeal.
“It will be our job to put her back together but we’re pleased to have that chance.”
Her younger sister, Rachel Plummer, 31, said: “I feel numb, to be honest.
“My body won’t allow any feelings, I think it’s just used to being let down."
“Until I see her walk out of those prison gates I won’t confirm it.
“I’m on my way to Egypt to find out. We don’t know yet whether it’s true.”
Miss Plummer was arrested at Hurghada airport, on the Red Sea coast, on October 9 last year when she flew in to see Mr Caboo.
She was jailed by judges on Boxing Day after admitting the offence, despite being unaware the drugs were illegal.
During a 20-minute family visit 10 days ago, she begged to be taken home, telling relatives she could not cope with life in a cell shared by 64 other inmates.
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She said: “It’s a living hell and I want to die. I can’t bear it any more.”
Mrs Synclair said at the time: “The first sight of her has left me scarred for life. She hadn’t eaten for a week and was drinking water out of a tap in the toilet.”
The Foreign Office said: “We continue to provide assistance to Laura and her family.
“Our embassy remains in regular contact with the Egyptian authorities.
