A woman who faced up to four years in a Dubai jail accused of having traces of banned drugs in her body has been cleared and is waiting to hear when she can fly home to Sussex.
Painkiller codeine and the sedative tamazepam were found in Tracy Wilkinson's urine after she was arrested at Dubai airport two months ago for a passport irregularity.
It is illegal to possess codeine in the Arab state, even in the body's system, and if she had been found guilty Ms Wilkinson, 44, from Balcombe, would have faced a maximum prison sentence of four years.
The mother of two, who runs the Balcombe Osteopath and Sports Injury Clinic in Haywards Heath Road, Balcombe, took the drugs before she flew to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after being prescribed them by her GP in the UK.
He provided the Dubai authorities with written evidence to confirm that several weeks ago, according to campaign group Fair Trials Abroad, which has been fighting for her acquittal.
But during a court hearing on Saturday, official medical records revealed she had also been administered the drugs by a police doctor at Dubai airport before she gave the urine sample, Fair Trials spokesman Stephen Jakobi said. He explained: "The illegal medication that she took was in fact medication prescribed when she was in police custody and very agitated."
At a further hearing in Dubai yesterday, Ms Wilkinson's lawyer was told the charges against her had been dropped, her ex-husband Robin Wilkinson said.
"The lawyer appeared in court and she's been acquitted of the charges," he said. "It's wonderful news.
"Today they need to go to the prosecutor's office to see whether there's any chance they may waive the 15-day cooling off period during which time they have the opportunity to appeal.
"We're hoping they will say they will waive that and she'll be able to get her passport back and be home as soon as possible."
The 50-year-old retired police officer from Handcross added: "She's very pleased and very relieved but she won't be fully relieved until she's back on home soil."
Ms Wilkinson spent almost eight weeks in prison before being bailed a week ago .
Mr Jakobi said it was unclear whether she was acquitted because the authorities accepted she was prescribed the drugs by her GP for back problems following a car accident or because they had discovered a UAE police doctor had given her them while she was on holiday when her back was causing her discomfort.
He said: "I wasn't in court and neither was Tracy so I can't get first-hand confirmation of which one it was.
"My guess is they will take the first as the explanation and save face."
Ms Wilkinson's lawyer had suggested she take further legal action but it was the last thing on her mind, Mr Jakobi said.
"At the moment, she just wants to get home and see her children and get on with life," he said.
"I don't think she'll be going back to Dubai. She wasn't sounding very keen when I last spoke to her."
He added: "This is not the end of it. There's far too many threats laying over the heads of travellers to Dubai.
"The UAE must get its act together with this problem and realise that headache pills are daily commerce in Europe and America."
Mr Wilkinson added: "Tracy wants to send her heartfelt thanks to everyone who's believed in her and her integrity."
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