Laura Plummer, 34, was originally jailed for carrying hundreds of painkillers in her suitcase but hoped Egypt's appeal court would accept that she had no way of knowing they were banned
THE family of Egypt jail hell Brit Laura Plummer spoke of their disappointment today after she lost an appeal bid for freedom - but insisted: "We won’t give up."
In a statement released to Sun Online following the court's ruling, they also revealed Laura "fights every day to survive".
Laura, 34, was jailed for carrying hundreds of painkillers in her suitcase but hoped the country’s appeal court would accept that she had no way of knowing the pills were banned.
Her family today said they were "sad but not surprised" by the ruling delivered by seven judges sitting in Cairo’s Supreme Court of Cassation.
"We’re understandably disappointed with the result of the appeal, but not surprised. We’ve learnt this last year not to expect too much and to prepare for the worst.
"We were hopeful common sense would prevail this time but it hasn’t. This result, whilst upsetting, only strengthens our resolve to keep fighting for Laura.
"We are, however, troubled by the fact that nobody saw fit to notify Laura of the appeal result as soon as it was delivered.
"We broke the distressing news to her 24 hours later in a crowded visiting room full of other prisoners."
Despite evidence from the UK Foreign Office backing her, judges in Cairo upheld her conviction and three-year jail term issued on Boxing Day.
Laura broke down in tears as her family and Egyptian husband Omar Saad, 34, broke the news to her inside the notorious Al Qanater prison.
The shop worker, dressed in an all-white jihab, sobbed: “I hate it. I hate it so much. I just want to come home.”
Speaking to The Sun, Laura, from Hull, added: “What don’t these people get? I wonder if I’ve died and this is hell. What did I do that was so wrong in my life to end up here?
“I thought the appeal judges would see sense and realise I couldn’t have known the tablets were banned. It’s just so absurd.”
Laura was found with 290 Tramadol tablets when she arrived in Hurghada on holiday in October 2017. She was arrested and charged despite her pleas that the painkillers were for Omar’s bad back.
Her mum Roberta Synclair, 64, and sister Jayne, 41, flew out for the latest hearing.
But the seven judges ruled the original court’s decision was correct — she was guilty of possession.
The Foreign Office submitted paperwork showing Laura had no way of knowing the pills were banned, including evidence its website had not been up to date.
The tour operator she booked with supplied similar evidence.
But the appeal court ruled that ignorance of the law was not a defence. Laura has one appeal left, but it could be months before it is heard.
Mum Roberta said: “We’re disappointed, but not surprised. Each time we come to Egypt we prepare for the worst. Anything else is a bonus.”
But Laura’s lawyer Mohamed Osman said the failed appeal could work in her favour in the long run.
He added: “If the judge had accepted the appeal, he would have returned the criminal case back to the criminal court and Laura would have been starting again from the beginning.”
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