Mom of woman, 23, 'jailed for life' abroad for making 'very stupid mistake' issues new plea to the public
The mom of a 23-year-old woman who has been jailed for life has made a new plea to the public.
Mia O'Brien, from Merseyside in the UK, was given a life sentence after she was allegedly found with 50g of cocaine in Dubai.
A GoFundMe page had been set up by her mother, Danielle McKenna, who revealed that the money raised would be sent to Mia to cover legal fees, as well as travel costs, so that they could visit her.
The 23-year-old was reportedly being held in Dubai's central prison, where inmates have described conditions as being 'hellish'; however, her mother said that she'd 'been transferred to another prison after getting a life sentence'.
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"I haven't seen my daughter since last October. Mia is only 23 years old and has never done a bad thing in her life," the fundraiser stated.
"This is a young girl, who went to university to do law, and unfortunately got mixed up in the wrong so-called friends and made a very stupid mistake and is now paying the price."
According to The Sun, the GoFundMe has since been deleted, but Dannielle has issued a new plea on Facebook, announcing that she is making her own fundraiser.
In her post, she provided her bank details, as she wrote: "I am going to set up my own, as they [GoFundMe] are nitpicking at everything... I would just like to thank everyone."
In a statement to the publication, a GoFundMe spokesperson explained: "It was removed because it violates Term 9 of the Prohibited Conduct section in our Terms of Service.
"Term 9 prohibits raising funds on GoFundMe for the legal defence of certain alleged crimes."
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Dannielle explained that Mia made a 'stupid mistake'.
"I speak to her, but she can't say too much on the phone," she said. "She's just made a stupid mistake after going over to see a friend and her boyfriend in Dubai.
"... She was crying on the phone and saying 'Oh mum - please forgive me'. I definitely don't think she was going to sell the drugs or bring them back.
"It's a lot of drugs but there are others involved and she has just been caught up in it."
Over on the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office website, there's a strict warning regarding the rules on drugs in Dubai.
It explains: "There is zero tolerance for drug-related offences.
"The penalties for trafficking, smuggling, using and possessing illegal drugs (including residual amounts) are severe.
"Sentences for drug trafficking can include the death penalty. Possession of even the smallest amount of illegal drugs, including cannabis, can lead to a minimum 3-month prison term or a fine of between 20,000 UAE dirham and 100,000 UAE dirham.
"The Emirati authorities count the presence of drugs in the bloodstream as possession. Some 'herbal highs' and products containing cannabidiol (CBD) are illegal in the UAE.
"Possessing, concealing or making transactions with money from drug-related offences is illegal. You could get a prison sentence and a fine.
"UAE airports have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items, including cannabis. This is also used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers. You can be arrested for carrying drugs, even residual amounts."
An FCDO Spokesperson said: "We are supporting the family of a British woman detained in the UAE and are in contact with the local authorities."
Topics: Crime, News, World News, Drugs
Lucy Devine