British couple mistakenly arrested for theft of Egyptian antiquities
Retired policeman Anthony Griffin and his wife Pauline were stopped at St. Lucia airport by an immigration official who told him there was an international warrant for his arrest over the theft of Egyptian artefacts. The couple were planning on spending a three week holiday break in the Caribbean island when Mr. Griffin was mistakenly identified as the man wanted by Egyptian authorities.
Instead of booking in to a plush hotel the couple say they were separated and thrown in filthy, rat-infested police cells for two days.
“We were terrified,” said Mr Griffin. “The treatment was diabolical. I was frightened to death and my wife was shaking with fear. We’ve been to Egypt twice but all we brought back was a cheap souvenir with Nefertiti’s head on it.”
Tony and Pauline Griffin are happy to be back home in the UK after being told there was nothing wrong. Mr Griffin, meanwhile, is seeking redress from the St Lucian authorities but it is unclear what avenues are open to him.
