Drug pair pardoned by Gulf state

LONDON, England -- Two Britons are preparing to fly home after being pardoned for drug smuggling in the United Arab Emirates.

The UK Foreign Office in London said social worker Ian Bamling, 31, and friend Lynn Majakas, 45, a head teacher at a school for special needs pupils in London, were jailed a year ago for four-and-a-half years.

It is understood that they are being released early in line with the holy Muslim celebrations of Ramadan.

Majakas, a vicar's daughter, and Bamling were arrested after being caught at Abu Dhabi international airport in October 1998 with a small amount of cannabis and bottles of alcohol.

They had travelled to the Gulf for a half-term package holiday, and were jailed despite a sworn statement from a male friend that the drugs, concealed in a camera case, were not packed by them.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office told CNN.com: "We understand that the pair have been granted a pardon and have been released.

"We do not know any details of their arrangements to return home. That is up to them and their familes."

A colleague of Majakas, who did not wish to be named, told the UK's Press Association: "We have been telephoned by Gladys Barr, Ms Majakas's mother, who told us that she had been pardoned and would be flying home on Boxing Day.

"We have campaigned for her release and are just pleased that they are both out -- and pleased that the Arab government has been prepared to grant clemency."

Bamling's father, of Selby, North Yorkshire, said: "My other son Robert got a call from the embassy in Abu Dhabi about two days ago to say that Ian was flying home (on Boxing Day).

"In October we travelled over there, that is myself, Robert, his wife and my ex-wife Sally, to make arrangements to talk to the sheikh, but it didn't happen as he was recuperating after an operation.

"We were lucky enough to get in to see Ian and he was sharing a cell with 11 other people.

"I was surprised how well he looked under those conditions. But he was quite positive that he would be released.

"Ian has never talked about drugs before this happened -- that's why it was such a shock right out of the blue.

"It is good to know he is coming home, especially around Christmas time."

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Foreign & Commonwealth Office
United Arab Emirates
Ramadan Information Center

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