Charges dropped against Swedish woman in Dubai airport row
The Swedish national was deported after verbally abusing and unlawfully photographing an immigration officer
The Dubai Public Prosecution has dropped criminal charges of a Swedish woman who attempted to enter the UAE on an expired passport and verbally abused an immigration officer, according to Dubai Attorney General Esam Issa Al Humaidan.
According to authorities, the incident began when the woman, Ellie Holman, arrived on a flight from London’s Gatwick airport on an Emirates flight and attempted to enter the UAE with a Swedish passport that had expired on June 10.
After being informed by the immigration officer that she could not enter the country on an expired passport, Holman produced an Iranian passport and was informed by the officer that she could enter the country on a new temporary visa, which allowed a 96-hour stay, and would have to change her departure flight to suit the timeframe stipulated in the visa.
Angered by the additional payment fees that the process would require, authorities said Holman then verbally abused the immigration officer and took photographs of him with her mobile phone.
She was then charged with profanity and photographing a government official in a restricted area, and was held at the airport’s security office for less than 24-hours, during which time the Public Prosecution said “full account and consideration” was given to her 4-year old daughter.
“Her father received her immediately upon his arrival and they subsequently departed the country,” the Dubai Public Prosecution said.
Charges were then dropped against Holman and she was deported from the UAE.
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