Yahoo News Brit jailed in Egypt for bringing in banned painkillers set to be freed after presidential pardon
The British woman jailed for taking illegal painkillers into Egypt is expected to be released as an ‘act of mercy’ within the next few hours.
Laura Plummer, who had been jailed for three years for taking 290 Tramadol tablets into the country, has been pardoned by Egypt’s president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, as part of national holiday decree.
She was imprisoned in December and is expected to be released within the next 24 hours.
Family members are expected to arrive in Egypt later today.
The 33-year-old told her family over the phone over after hearing of her release: ‘I never thought this day would come. I’d given up hope. It’s hard to believe and hasn’t sunk in yet.’
She had taken the pills into Egypt for her partner Omar, who suffers from severe back pain. But the painkillers are banned in the North African country.
Miss Plummer, a shop worker from Hull, East Yorkshire, described herself as ‘naive’ for taking the pills to Egypt.
Her sister, Jayne Synclair, told The Sun: ‘We can’t believe it’s over. We’ve prayed for this day since she was arrested. We just want to get her home.’
Miss Plummer is thought to be being held at Al-Qanatar women’s prison on the outskirts of Cairo.
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Her Egyptian boyfriend, Omar Saad, has said previously that he felt responsible for her plight.
The pair met at the luxury resort several years ago in Sharm el Sheikh.
Miss Plummer has always maintained she did not know Tramadol was banned in the country.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: ‘We continue to provide assistance to Laura and her family, and our embassy remains in regular contact with the Egyptian authorities.’
