British passenger stuck in UAE for telling staff a bomb could be on flight had psychotic breakdown
Revealed: British passenger, 39, who is stuck in desert prison in UAE for telling airline staff there could be bomb on flight had psychotic breakdown ‘that was not accepted by Abu Dhabi court’
Evidence shows that Steve Long, 39, was diagnosed with acute psychosis and delirium days after he was arrested and jailed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)His wife, Heloise said the judge did not accept the report at his hearing or appealHe told Eithad Airlines staff there could be a bomb on his flight to Manchester He faces up to 13 years in jail unless he can pay a court imposed £100,000 fine
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Medical evidence that a passenger had suffered a psychotic break before he told airline staff about a bomb was not accepted by a court in Abu Dhabi, it has emerged.
A report obtained by Mail Online shows that Steve Long was diagnosed with acute psychosis and delirium days after he was arrested.
The former soldier had told staff with Etihad Airlines that he feared there was a bomb on board his return flight to Manchester.
His wife says despite his obvious distress he was arrested, jailed for three days and convicted of making a bomb threat.
Army veteran Steve Long (pictured with wife Heloise) faces up to 13 years in jail unless he can pay a £100,000 fine imposed by the court
The 39-year-old paramedic faces up to 13 years in jail unless he can pay a £100,000 fine imposed by the court.
Doctors a the Sheikh Khalifa Medical Centre in Abu Dhabi examined Long on February 4th after he was admitted for treatment.
The report says:’ On assessment he was agitated, confused and lacks capacity.
‘Currently he is still ongoing psychiatric assessment with possible diagnosis of mania or psychotic disorder.
The report was presented to a court in Abu Dhabi where Long’s lawyer had tried to argue he had suffered a breakdown and was not making a terrorist threat.
But according to his wife Heloise the judge did not accept the report at his first hearing and a later appeal.
Heloise, 43, a nurse, said her husband suffered a mental breakdown caused by undiagnosed PTSD as he was about to board a flight back to Manchester on January 28
The report was presented to a court in Abu Dhabi where Long’s lawyer had tried to argue he had suffered a breakdown and was not making a terrorist threat
Doctors a the Sheikh Khalifa Medical Centre in Abu Dhabi examined Long on February 4th after he was admitted for treatment
Heloise said:’ Anyone reading the report carried out by doctors in Abu Dhabi can seen that Steve was not well.
‘He had suffered a breakdown and did not know what he was saying. There is a big different to someone who is making a bomb threat.’
Heloise, 43, fears her husband of six month could die in prison with conditions making his mental state even worse.
He is being held at the Al Wabtha desert prison where conditions have been condemned by human rights groups.
Heloise hopes that Etihad Airlines will make a representation to the court to drop the charges once they understand there was no malice on her husband’s part
Heloise hopes that Etihad Airlines will make a representation to the court to drop the charges once they understand there was no malice on her husband’s part.
A spokesman for Etiihad, sponsors of Manchester City, said they cannot comment due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.
‘It is obvious that Steve was unwell when he tried to board the flight. We were told some staff realised this, but instead of taking him to one side the police were called and he was arrested.
‘Such is his state of mind he does not even remember what he was saying or what took place.’
