Late last year Samantha Cambridge's five-year old daughter Levana was taken from Australia to Egypt by her estranged husband, Levana's father. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have provided A Current Affair with the following chronological description of their involvement with the case of Sam Cambridge's missing daughter Levana. Here is their response in full.
November 14, 2006: Levana’s next of kin in Australia, her aunt Joanne Rowlinson, advises that Levana’s father, Mr Mohamed Ahmed Okba, refuses to allow Levana to return to Australia together with her mother, Samantha Cambridge. The Embassy provides Ms Cambridge with a list of local lawyers.
December 14, 2006: Ms Cambridge returns to Australia and liaises directly with the Department of Children’s Services and the Attorney General’s Department.
January 24, 2007: DFAT forwards Ms Cambridge’s application under the Bilateral Agreement between Australia and the Arab Republic of Egypt regarding Cooperation on Protecting the Welfare of Children to the Embassy in Cairo by diplomatic bag.
January 29, 2007: Ms Cambridge notifies Attorney-General’s that she has been given legal custody of Levana by the local court in Tanta.
January 31, 2007: Attorney-General’s requests DFAT to put Ms Cambridge’s application on hold and reactivate it if Ms Cambridge has difficulties in returning to Australia with Levana. Post confirms that it has put application on hold.
Feburary 13, 2007: With the assistance of police and a social worker Levana is scheduled to be reunited with Ms Cambridge in Tanta but Mr Okba disappears with Levana before the meeting.
February 14, 2007: At Attorney General’s request, the Embassy sends a formal diplomatic note to the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with Ms Cambridge’s application under Bilateral Agreement.
Feburary 15, 2007: Consular Manager contacts the Head of the Investigations Office for the Implementation of Court Orders at Tanta police station to raise concerns for Levana’s welfare and request assistance to expedite the investigation to locate her.
The Embassy sends a letter to the Egyptian Passports, Immigration and Nationality Department to ascertain whether Mr Okba has taken Levana out of Egypt and if so, to obtain details.
Feburary 18, 2007: The Embassy provides information to Egyptian State Security and seeks assistance in determining whether Levana and her father are still in Egypt, and if so where; and enquires how the Embassy and Egyptian State Security can best jointly assist Ms Cambridge.
February 19, 2007: The Embassy sends a formal diplomatic note to the Ministry of Justice notifying it of Levana’s case and providing copies of previous correspondence between the Embassy and the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and also a copy of Ms Cambridge’s application under the Bilateral Agreement.
Consular Manager follows up with the Head of the Investigations Office at Tanta police station about Mr Okba’s whereabouts and then advises Ms Cambridge’s lawyer of the police report.
February 27, 2007: Consul contacts the Assistant Minister of Justice for International Cooperation and Human Rights at the Ministry of Justice to seek an update on Levana’s case.
March 1, 2007: The Embassy receives a formal diplomatic note from the Ministry of Justice advising that it has requested the Egyptian Ministry of Interior and Interpol to investigate Levana’s whereabouts; and also advising that a Committee of Good Offices will review Ms Cambridge’s request once the investigation results are known.
Consular Manager contacts El Gharbia Security Headquarters to check that the investigations are underway.
March 13, 2007: Consul contacts the Ministry of Interior requesting its assistance in expediting the investigation.
March 15, 2007: Consul requests that Egyptian State Security arrange an appointment with the Head of El Gharbia Security in Tanta.
April 4, 2007: The Embassy sends a formal diplomatic note to the Ministry of Justice requesting an update on Levana’s case and assistance in approaching local authorities to have the investigation expedited.
April 24, 2007: Consular Manager contacts the office of the Governor of El Gharbia; the Head of El Gharbia security in Tanta; and the Ministry of the Interior to check whether the Embassy’s requested appointments to meet with local authorities have been approved.
April 29, 2007: Ambassador Bowker visits the Governor of El Gharbia and the Head of El Gharbia Security in Tanta and advises Ms Cambridge and her lawyer of the outcome of the visit.
