A 23-year-old British law student has been sentenced to 25 years in prison in Dubai after being found in possession of approximately 50 grams of cocaine, according to her family.
Mia O’Brien, a University of Liverpool student originally from Merseyside, was arrested during a visit to the United Arab Emirates. Her mother, Danielle McKenna, told British media that the case involved about $3,400 worth of the drug. In addition to the lengthy prison sentence, O’Brien was also handed a fine of $136,000.
“She pleaded not guilty — they don’t have a just trial over there,” McKenna told the Daily Mail. She said the trial was conducted in Arabic and that her daughter only learned of the outcome from her lawyer afterward. “She was just given a life sentence and has to serve 25 years.”
O’Brien, who had aspirations of becoming a solicitor, is reportedly devastated by the turn of events. Her mother said the arrest and sentence have likely ended her legal career.
“Mia feels she has destroyed her life,” McKenna said. “She made a mistake after going over to visit a friend and her boyfriend in Dubai. I don’t think she was asked to bring anything back. She was caught with cocaine in an apartment. There were two others involved — her friend and another person — and all three have been charged with drug-dealing.”
O’Brien is currently being held at Dubai’s Central Prison, which has faced criticism for poor conditions. According to McKenna, her daughter shares a cell with six other inmates, sleeps on a mattress on the floor, and has witnessed violence during her time there.
“Prison conditions are horrendous,” McKenna said. “She’s been really scared. There’s barely any staff, and if she needs anything, she has to bang on the door.”
Human Rights Watch has previously reported that the facility suffers from overcrowding and inadequate supervision, raising concerns about safety and inmate treatment.
O’Brien plans to appeal her sentence in the coming weeks. Her mother had initially launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover legal expenses, but the page was taken down by the platform for violating its terms. McKenna is now sharing her bank details directly via Facebook to raise funds.