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Community work for fraud Britons Community work for fraud Britons
(about 9 hours later)
Two British law graduates accused of falsely claiming their belongings had been stolen in a robbery in Brazil have been sentenced to community service. Two British law graduates who admitted an attempted insurance fraud in Brazil have been sentenced to community service and fined.
Brazil's TV Globo earlier reported that Rebecca Turner, of Berks, and Shanti Andrews, of Sussex, told a court they were robbed but exaggerated the theft. Rebecca Turner, of Berks, and Shanti Andrews, of Sussex, told a court they were robbed but exaggerated the theft.
They were said to have told police that goods worth £1,000 were stolen from them during a bus journey in Brazil. They told police that goods worth £1,000 were stolen from them during a bus journey in Brazil.
The women, both 23, will now have to stay in Brazil for several months. The women, both 23, may have to stay in Brazil for at least eight months, unless an appeal succeeds.
The BBC's Gary Duffy in Rio de Janeiro said the two women listened anxiously as the sentence was read to them via a translator, explaining that a 14-month jail term had been converted to community service. I think the appeal will have a great chance of success Britons' defence lawyer
The BBC's Gary Duffy in Rio de Janeiro said the two women listened anxiously as the sentence was read to them via a translator, explaining that a 14-month jail term had been converted to community service and a fine reported to total $6,400 (£3,900).
Our correspondent said they showed "a mixture of relief and dismay - relief that they wouldn't go to prison, but dismay that they will have to stay and probably launch an appeal".Our correspondent said they showed "a mixture of relief and dismay - relief that they wouldn't go to prison, but dismay that they will have to stay and probably launch an appeal".
The women's lawyer told BBC News: "I prepared them for a prison sentence, I prepared them for the worst, so I think they are relieved."The women's lawyer told BBC News: "I prepared them for a prison sentence, I prepared them for the worst, so I think they are relieved."
I think the appeal will have a great chance of success Britons' defence lawyer A jail term could have been from one to five years. The judge said he had treated the women no differently from Brazilian defendants and that the sentence would serve as a warning to others considering the same insurance scam.
A jail term could have been from one to five years.
Our correspondent said the women had already spent several days in an overcrowded jail in Rio de Janeiro - an experience they would be very relieved not to have to repeat.Our correspondent said the women had already spent several days in an overcrowded jail in Rio de Janeiro - an experience they would be very relieved not to have to repeat.
Their lawyer said the appeal was likely to start as soon as next week. 'Completely wrong'
Their lawyer said an appeal - to convert the sentence to a larger fine or allow them to serve the punishment in the UK - was likely to start as soon as next week.
"I think the sentence is completely wrong. So I think the appeal will have a great chance of success and the sentence will be modified," he said."I think the sentence is completely wrong. So I think the appeal will have a great chance of success and the sentence will be modified," he said.
He added that he may try to apply to the judge for the women to return to England before their appeal is decided.He added that he may try to apply to the judge for the women to return to England before their appeal is decided.
Miss Turner, from Woolton Hill near Newbury, and Miss Andrews of Frant near Tunbridge Wells, were due to return to England after a nine-month trip around the world.Miss Turner, from Woolton Hill near Newbury, and Miss Andrews of Frant near Tunbridge Wells, were due to return to England after a nine-month trip around the world.
However they were arrested after officers from a specialist tourist support unit apparently became suspicious that they had waited several days before reporting the theft.However they were arrested after officers from a specialist tourist support unit apparently became suspicious that they had waited several days before reporting the theft.
Police allegedly uncovered some of the items reported stolen in their Rio hostel room.Police allegedly uncovered some of the items reported stolen in their Rio hostel room.
Miss Andrews and Miss Turner were on bail until their trial.Miss Andrews and Miss Turner were on bail until their trial.