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Britons' Rio arrest a 'mistake' Britons' Rio arrest a 'mistake'
(31 minutes later)
The mother of one of two British law graduates arrested in Brazil over alleged false claims they had been robbed says it is a "misunderstanding".The mother of one of two British law graduates arrested in Brazil over alleged false claims they had been robbed says it is a "misunderstanding".
Simone Headley said her daughter Shanti Andrews and friend Rebecca Turner were both "absolutely traumatised".Simone Headley said her daughter Shanti Andrews and friend Rebecca Turner were both "absolutely traumatised".
Reports say the 23-year-olds claimed items had been stolen but the police found the belongings at their hostel. Reports say the 23-year-olds claimed items had been stolen before police found the belongings at their hostel.
The Foreign Office confirmed two British nationals had been arrested in Rio de Janeiro on 26 July.The Foreign Office confirmed two British nationals had been arrested in Rio de Janeiro on 26 July.
The women were due back from a nine-month trip around the world on Tuesday.
It is understood that if they were charged with fraud, they could face a five-year jail term.
'Show leniency''Show leniency'
Ms Headley, from Frant, near Tunbridge Wells in Kent, said she had spoken to her "devastated" daughter on Monday. Ms Headley, from Frant, near Tunbridge Wells in Kent, said when she spoke to her daughter on Monday that she had been "terrified" and "in tears".
"There has been a misunderstanding. Shanti and Rebecca are two hardworking young girls, never been in trouble," she said. "She had had a couple of nights in the police cell and she was aware she was going to be transferred to a women's prison," Ms Headley said.
Ms Headley hopes Brazilian authorities will realise the "misunderstanding"Ms Headley hopes Brazilian authorities will realise the "misunderstanding"
"This unfortunate incident came along at the end of their nine-month journey around the world. "It was so difficult. I told her she would get through it and it was a story she was going to tell her grandchildren."
"We hope the Brazilian justice system will see it as a misunderstanding and the girls will be able to come home safely. We are asking them to please show the world fairness and leniency." She said both her daughter and Miss Turner were "honest and hardworking" and "had never been in trouble in their lives".
"We are providing consular assistance," said a Foreign Office spokesman. "I just hope the Brazilian legal system will show leniency and mercy," she said.
Press reports in the UK and Brazil say the women had claimed their belongings were stolen during a bus journey from the tourist resort of Foz do Iguacu to Rio de Janeiro. She told the BBC she could not comment on suggestions that the arrests were linked to alleged insurance fraud.
"The girls had some things stolen and they put a report into the police station," she said. "There was a misunderstanding - a couple of the items they claimed were then found in their luggage."
A Foreign Office spokesman said it was providing consular assistance.
Press reports in the UK and Brazil say the women had claimed belongings, worth a total of £1,000, were stolen during a bus journey from the tourist resort of Foz do Iguacu to Rio de Janeiro.
O Dia, a Rio de Janeiro daily newspaper, reported that the police were suspicious of the women and accompanied them back to their hostel, where they allegedly recovered the items claimed stolen.O Dia, a Rio de Janeiro daily newspaper, reported that the police were suspicious of the women and accompanied them back to their hostel, where they allegedly recovered the items claimed stolen.