A mother held in a Dubai prison for three days was not detained over a glass of wine, but because she verbally abused an immigration officer because her passport was expired, Dubai’s Attorney General has said.

Dr Ellie Holmon and her four-year-old daughter Bibi received an apology from the government for their detention after they were freed yesterday.

They had been held in a ‘baking hot and foul smelling’ room, but as Bibi was too terrified to leave her side they slept in the canteen area where lights were kept on constantly.

Dr Ellie Holman and 4 year old Bibi. A mum-of-three was banged up abroad with her little girl - for drinking a single glass of wine. See NATIONAL story NNDUBAI. Dr Ellie Holman was arrested in Dubai and thrown into a "baking hot and foul smelling" detention centre after an eight-hour flight with her four-year-old Bibi when a disgruntled immigration official took issue with her visa. Both of them were denied food, water and toilet access, and were held in prison for three days together - her little girl had to go to the toilet on the cell floor. When they were locked up, other detainees told harrowing stories about being raped by the police and prison guards. Now Ellie faces being stuck in Dubai for up to a year awaiting her court hearing. Ellie and Bibi had been heading to the strict state for a five-day break, where the family have been many times, when before their ordeal began.
Dr Ellie Holman was held because she had an expired passport, Dubai’s attorney general has said (Picture: SWNS)
Bibi before her Dubai prison ordeal. A mum-of-three was banged up abroad with her little girl - for drinking a single glass of wine. See NATIONAL story NNDUBAI. Dr Ellie Holman was arrested in Dubai and thrown into a "baking hot and foul smelling" detention centre after an eight-hour flight with her four-year-old Bibi when a disgruntled immigration official took issue with her visa. Both of them were denied food, water and toilet access, and were held in prison for three days together - her little girl had to go to the toilet on the cell floor. When they were locked up, other detainees told harrowing stories about being raped by the police and prison guards. Now Ellie faces being stuck in Dubai for up to a year awaiting her court hearing. Ellie and Bibi had been heading to the strict state for a five-day break, where the family have been many times, when before their ordeal began.
Bibi and her mother were held in the ‘baking hot and foul smelling’ jail for three days

The dentist, from Sevenoaks, Kent, said she was arrested after she admitted drinking wine on the Emirates Airlines flight and was informed that drinking alcohol was illegal in the UAE.

But But Dubai’s Attorney General Issa Al Humaidan said the argument started when she arrived into the country with a Swedish passport that had expired last month, The Sun reports.

Mr Al Humaidan said: ‘She was advised by the immigration officer that she could not enter the country with an expired passport.

‘She then produced an Iranian passport, and was informed by the officer that she could enter the country by issuing a new temporary visa, which allowed a 96-hour stay, and had to change her departure flight according to the new visa.’

An Emirates airliner, where Dr Ellie Holman had a glass of wine whilst travelling to Dubai. A mum-of-three was banged up abroad with her little girl - for drinking a single glass of wine. See NATIONAL story NNDUBAI. Dr Ellie Holman was arrested in Dubai and thrown into a "baking hot and foul smelling" detention centre after an eight-hour flight with her four-year-old Bibi when a disgruntled immigration official took issue with her visa. Both of them were denied food, water and toilet access, and were held in prison for three days together - her little girl had to go to the toilet on the cell floor. When they were locked up, other detainees told harrowing stories about being raped by the police and prison guards. Now Ellie faces being stuck in Dubai for up to a year awaiting her court hearing. Ellie and Bibi had been heading to the strict state for a five-day break, where the family have been many times, when before their ordeal began.
Dr Holman says she was held after admitting to drinking a glass of wine during the flight (Picture: SWNS)

He added that she ‘refused angrily due to the additional payment fees the process would require, and proceeded to verbally insult the immigration officer and take photos of the officer via her phone.’

After she was arrested, charges of ‘profanity and photographing a government official at the border crossing, a restricted area’ were issued against Dr Holman.

Now, she has been told her charges will be dropped and she will be deported instead.

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