The boyfriend of a British woman jailed for taking painkillers into Egypt has admitted he feels responsible for her plight because she was bringing the pills for him.
In his first interview since Laura Plummer, 33, was convicted of possessing banned drugs, Egyptian lifeguard Omar Abdul Azim said: ‘I’m the reason for what happened because she brought this especially for me.’
Miss Plummer, a shop assistant from Hull, was detained after arriving at the Red Sea resort of Hurghada in October with 290 Tramadol pills in her luggage.
Laura Plummer and her boyfriend Omar Abdul Azim. They met four years ago at the Hilton hotel in Sharks Bay, near Sharm el-Sheikh
She claimed she brought them for Mr Azim, who has a wife and two children, as he suffers from back pain after a car crash. She said she did not know Tramadol is banned in Egypt and was jailed for three years on Boxing Day.
Speaking to the Mail from his home in Beni Suef near Cairo, Mr Azim, said last night: ‘My heart is absolutely broken – I’m missing her so much. I did not want her to violate her life and I had no idea she would bring tramadol – I would have told her “don’t bring it to Egypt”.’
He added that he is campaigning for her release and is looking for a ‘better lawyer’ to help.
Miss Plummer was taken to the notorious Qena prison on Wednesday but it was decided there was no room for her. She is now at a police station in Hurghada.
It is unclear which jail she will be moved to permanently, but her family are hoping it will be one in Cairo where conditions are reportedly much better.
Miss Plummer’s mother, Roberta Synclair, 63, who has visited her with fresh food and clothes, said she is expected to live on bread and water and has been clutching a ‘bunny rabbit teddy bear’ to help her through her ordeal.
‘It’s been terrible for her,’ said Miss Synclair. ‘She hasn’t seen daylight for three months, causing her to break out into a rash.’
She added the rabbit was one of hundreds of gifts and letters from well-wishers that have flooded in from her home city and around the world, giving her a ‘lifeline’.
Laura has been clutching a rabbit toy to help her with her ordeal, her mother said
Two years ago Miss Plummer and Mr Azim had an Orfi marriage, which is not registered with the state but allows them to share a hotel room.
He considers her his wife. Polygamy is legal for men in Egypt and Mr Azim has another wife, who Miss Plummer has met.
Mr Azim said of Miss Plummer: ‘She’s my wife and I love her. I have been depressed. I was wordless [at the court verdict].’
They met four years ago at the Hilton hotel in Sharks Bay, near Sharm el-Sheikh, where he was working as a lifeguard and Miss Plummer was on holiday.
Mr Azim said: ‘From the first meeting it was love. Afterwards, she came to Egypt just for me and I took vacations so we could spend them together.’
He added: ‘I will wait for her to come out.’
The notorious Qena Prison, where Laura was initially held before she was moved to a police station in Hurghada due to a lack of room
Miss Synclair said yesterday she expects her daughter’s agony will continue for at least five more months because of a lengthy appeal process.
She added: ‘I’m so frightened for her. We are hoping for a miracle – that she doesn’t get three years after appeal.
‘She was devastated when I saw her, but I’m so proud of her. I kept saying, “You’ve already done three months – if you can do that you can do anything”.
‘She kept saying “I can’t, I can’t”, but she seems to have pulled herself together a bit more now.’
Miss Synclair arrived in Hurghada last Friday only to find her daughter had been transferred to Sofaga, about 60 miles away. She was then moved to Qena before returning to Hurghada.
Miss Plummer’s father, Neville, has described the case as a ‘complete farce’.