University student Mia O’Brien was handed a life sentence in Dubai after she was caught with cocaine in October, according to her devastated mum
A British student locked up in a Dubai prison fears she has “destroyed” her life after allegedly being caught with Class-A drugs.
The 23-year-old, from Liverpool, was handed a life sentence after she was allegedly caught with 50 grams of cocaine in October, according to her devastated mum, Danielle McKenna.
After a one-day hearing, she was convicted on July 25, fined £100,000, and sent to the infamous Dubai Central prison. The Liverpool University law student, who pleaded not guilty to intent to supply cocaine, spends her time with six other inmates.
According to Danielle, Mia last spoke to her mum on the phone from the prison, but “can’t say too much.”
READ MORE: Brit teen Carlo Acutis pronounced saint by Pope Leo as thousands attend ceremonyREAD MORE: ‘NHS missed my cancer – now I’m left with just four months to live’
“Mia feels she has destroyed her life as she wanted to be a lawyer or solicitor, ” Danielle told the Daily Mail.
“I speak to her but she can’t say too much on the phone. She’s just made a stupid mistake after going over to see a friend and her boyfriend in Dubai.”
During the call, Mia begged for forgiveness from her mum as she wept, claiming she is “not a drug taker.”
Danielle admits that Mia’s prison conditions are “horrendous” and that she has to “bang on a big door” if she needs anything.
The 46-year-old believes her daughter is “innocent” and has been the victim of a “miscarriage of justice” after a one-day hearing.
“The trial was all in Arabic and Mia was told of the sentence later by her lawyer”, Danielle revealed.
“She is absolutely devastated by what has happened. Mia is being really strong but I know she is going through a living hell.” The student has not paid the court’s fine, but is due to have an appeal in the next couple of weeks.
Danielle has pleaded on Facebook for help to cover her daughter’s legal fees, after her original GoFundMe page was taken down on Friday for “breaching community rules.”
The mum wrote: “I am going to set up my own, as they [GoFundMe] are nitpicking at everything.” She said direct donations would allow her to keep all the money instead of giving a cut to GoFundMe. She added, “I would just like to thank everyone.”
A spokesperson for GoFundMe, on the original fundraiser being deleted, confirmed it was removed for the “legal defence of certain alleged crimes.”
They said: “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.”