A British student imprisoned in Dubai is facing a grim reality after being allegedly found with Class-A drugs, leading to a life sentence. The 23-year-old from Liverpool was reportedly caught with 50 grams of cocaine in October, resulting in a hefty fine of £100,000 and confinement at Dubai Central prison following a swift conviction on July 25. Despite maintaining her innocence regarding drug supply intent, the law student at Liverpool University now shares her time with six other inmates.
Her mother, Danielle McKenna, revealed that Mia, the student, expressed deep regret during a phone call from prison, lamenting that she may have jeopardized her aspirations of pursuing a legal career. Mia’s visit to Dubai to see a friend and her boyfriend took a disastrous turn, leading to her current predicament.
Describing the dire conditions in prison, Danielle highlighted the challenges Mia faces, emphasizing her daughter’s innocence and denouncing what she perceives as a grave injustice following a brief hearing conducted in Arabic. Mia, informed of her sentence by her lawyer after the trial, is reportedly devastated by the turn of events but remains resilient amidst the ordeal.
Seeking support for Mia’s legal expenses, Danielle turned to social media platforms after her initial GoFundMe campaign was shut down for violating community guidelines. Expressing gratitude for the assistance, she intends to set up an alternative fundraising platform to cover the mounting legal costs. GoFundMe, in response to the removal of the original fundraiser, cited its policy against raising funds for legal defense in cases involving certain alleged crimes.
As the situation unfolds, efforts continue to secure the necessary resources for Mia’s legal defense, as her family navigates the complexities of the legal system in a foreign land.