The family of an Indian woman who was arrested in Sharjah for allegedly smuggling drugs into the UAE has shared their relief after charges were dropped this week.
Chrisann Pereira, 27, was detained for 25 days at Sharjah Central Jail before being released on bail, on the condition that her passport is kept by prosecutors until investigations are complete.
She is now waiting for the release of her passport by Sharjah authorities so she can return home to India.
It is the biggest relief that the case has ended
Premila Pereira,
Chrisann's mother
“It has been a challenge but she has never given up,” her mother Premila Pereira told The National from Mumbai, where the family live.
“We are waiting for her to come back home to us.”
The Indian actress was arrested on April 1 at Sharjah Airport after 47.1g of cannabis, hemp resin, hemp extracts and poppy seeds were found concealed in a trophy she had carried into the country.
Pereira's family in India and her lawyer said she was duped into carrying the trophy by two men who posed as talent scouts and that she had no knowledge of the hidden drugs.
The men said they had booked her for an audition for a Hollywood series being filmed in Dubai.
When the actress learnt there was no one to meet her at Sharjah Airport and no hotel booking, she told police at the airport about the trophy.
Her family also filed a complaint with Mumbai Police and the men were arrested in Mumbai.
Family relieved
Ms Pereira was granted bail on April 27 and the criminal case against her was dropped on Tuesday.
“Although she got bail and is out of jail, she is still traumatised,” her mother said.
“At the time there was always a question as we didn't know what was going to happen next, or when she was going to be back. There was no timeline,” she said.
“Last week she was really sobbing as she wanted to come home. It is the biggest relief that the case has ended,” Ms Pereira said.
“My daughter is now happy, and is doing yoga, exercising and getting stronger.
“She keeps saying, ‘I don’t want to be known for this, I don’t want to be connected to a drug case',” said her mother, who has visited the UAE twice to be with her daughter.
“She has seen a psychiatrist and has taken medication to help her through this,” she said.
“All I did was hug her and love her. I didn’t speak about the jail. I just told her that she has told the truth and it will work out in the end.”
Church volunteers pitch in
During the first week when Chrisann was in jail, her family in India was unable to reach her.
Church volunteers in Sharjah helped arrange a phone card so that she could talk to her parents in Mumbai.
Her mother had never travelled overseas – the UAE trip to begin her daughter’s legal challenge was her first out of India.
Relatives in Dubai took Chrisann home when she was released on bail.
“The church, and the people of Dubai and Sharjah were the biggest help,” her mother said. “I can't express my gratitude enough.”
Ms Pereira said that church volunteers went to the jail and gave her daughter a calling card.
“My husband's family has cousins in Dubai,” her mother said. “Although Chrisann has never met them, they picked her up from jail. It was as if she has another home and family in Dubai. They have supported us mentally.”
She added that the family were also grateful to Sharjah authorities, their Emirati lawyer and consular officials.
“The Sharjah government has been very systematic in their investigation. Pure justice was given to my daughter,” the senior Ms Pereira said, adding that the travel ban has now been lifted.
“The prosecutor brought in a translator when he met me.
“They took the trouble even during Ramadan and my daughter has been proved innocent.”
Mumbai investigation
While Chrisann’s mother was in the UAE, her father Mark and brother Kevin approached police authorities in Mumbai to say she was innocent and that she had been tricked.
Mumbai Police said initial investigations indicated that the two men arrested had used similar methods to deceive at least four others into smuggling drugs into the UAE.
“Just before she took the flight, she was given a golden-coloured trophy that she was asked to carry as a memento,” Mumbai Police said in a statement.
The family now eagerly awaits Chrisann's return to Mumbai.
“The psychiatrist has said she needs rest and sleep,” her mother said.
“Until she gets home, none of us can rest.”
Timeline
1947
Ferrari’s road-car company is formed and its first badged car, the 125 S, rolls off the assembly line
1962
250 GTO is unveiled
1969
Fiat becomes a Ferrari shareholder, acquiring 50 per cent of the company
1972
The Fiorano circuit, Ferrari’s racetrack for development and testing, opens
1976
First automatic Ferrari, the 400 Automatic, is made
1987
F40 launched
1988
Enzo Ferrari dies; Fiat expands its stake in the company to 90 per cent
2002
The Enzo model is announced
2010
Ferrari World opens in Abu Dhabi
2011
First four-wheel drive Ferrari, the FF, is unveiled
2013
LaFerrari, the first Ferrari hybrid, arrives
2014
Fiat Chrysler announces the split of Ferrari from the parent company
2015
Ferrari launches on Wall Street
2017
812 Superfast unveiled; Ferrari celebrates its 70th anniversary
Overall head-to-head
Federer 6-1 Cilic
Head-to-head at Wimbledon
Federer 1-0 Cilic
Grand Slams titles
Federer 18-1 Cilic
Best Wimbledon performance
Federer: Winner (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012)
Cilic: Final (2017*)
Results
1.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Al Suhooj, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Khalifa Al Neyadi (trainer)
2pm Handicap (TB) 68,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner Miracle Maker, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer
2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Mazagran, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
3pm Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Alla Mahlak, Adrie de Vries, Rashed Bouresly
4pm Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Hurry Up, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m
Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
MATCH INFO
Quarter-finals
Saturday (all times UAE)
England v Australia, 11.15am
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm
Sunday
Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Your rights as an employee
The government has taken an increasingly tough line against companies that fail to pay employees on time. Three years ago, the Cabinet passed a decree allowing the government to halt the granting of work permits to companies with wage backlogs.
The new measures passed by the Cabinet in 2016 were an update to the Wage Protection System, which is in place to track whether a company pays its employees on time or not.
If wages are 10 days late, the new measures kick in and the company is alerted it is in breach of labour rules. If wages remain unpaid for a total of 16 days, the authorities can cancel work permits, effectively shutting off operations. Fines of up to Dh5,000 per unpaid employee follow after 60 days.
Despite those measures, late payments remain an issue, particularly in the construction sector. Smaller contractors, such as electrical, plumbing and fit-out businesses, often blame the bigger companies that hire them for wages being late.
The authorities have urged employees to report their companies at the labour ministry or Tawafuq service centres — there are 15 in Abu Dhabi.
Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours.
The package
Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm
Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: L/100km
Price: Dh306,495
On sale: now
ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
%3Cp%3EBy%202030%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%20aims%20to%20achieve%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%2039.3%20million%20visitors%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20nearly%2064%25%20up%20from%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%20Dh90%20billion%20contribution%20to%20GDP%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20about%2084%25%20more%20than%20Dh49%20billion%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%20178%2C000%20new%20jobs%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20bringing%20the%20total%20to%20about%20366%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%2052%2C000%20hotel%20rooms%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20up%2053%25%20from%2034%2C000%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%207.2%20million%20international%20visitors%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20almost%2090%25%20higher%20compared%20to%202023's%203.8%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%203.9%20international%20overnight%20hotel%20stays%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2022%25%20more%20from%203.2%20nights%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.5L/100km
Price: from Dh285,000
On sale: from January 2022
