Army Veteran Jailed And 'Denied Cancer Treatment' Is Freed

An Army veteran suffering from prostate cancer who was held in a Dubai prison after customs officers said he had "too many pills" has been freed.

Former gunner in the Royal Horse Artillery Perry Coppins, 61, was arrested on November 1 after a customs official mistook his cancer medication for illegal amounts of drugs, according to the campaign group Detained in Dubai (DiD).

The maritime security officer and father of three from Nottingham was carrying his medicine with his prescription - the medication in question is legal in the UAE with a prescription.

Mr Coppins was jailed for five weeks despite his explanation that the amount of medicine was needed as it was to last him for a six-month voyage.

The information released by DiD led to an international social media protest on his behalf.

At the time, Perry Coppins told Forces News through DiD that he was "fearful for his future" and was praying that he would "get his freedom and treatment he needs in time to save his life."

DiD announced yesterday that Mr Coppins' passport had now been returned, the charges against him dropped and he was free to return home but he was short of cash after spending his savings on mounting legal and living expenses as he waited to face court.

DiD chief executive Radha Stirling said: "We welcome the decision by Dubai authorities to take the humane and sensible course with Perry.

"This case should never have escalated to the point of criminal charges, but without the scrutiny of the international media, it is unlikely that Perry would be a free man tonight.

"In the absence of such attention, what was essentially a misjudgment by one customs official turned into a literally life-threatening situation for Perry."

DiD said that Mr Coppins was denied his medication in custody, causing his condition to deteriorate rapidly as he suffered severe withdrawal symptoms, including hallucinations, bouts of blindness and weight loss.