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Fraud Britons lodge Brazil appeal Fraud Britons lodge Brazil appeal
(about 3 hours later)
Two British law graduates who admitted falsely claiming to have been the victims of a theft in Brazil have formally lodged an appeal.Two British law graduates who admitted falsely claiming to have been the victims of a theft in Brazil have formally lodged an appeal.
Shanti Andrews, from Frant, in East Sussex, and Rebecca Turner, of Woolton Hill, in Berkshire, were sentenced to community service and fined last week.Shanti Andrews, from Frant, in East Sussex, and Rebecca Turner, of Woolton Hill, in Berkshire, were sentenced to community service and fined last week.
The University of Sussex students, both 23, had told police they had £1,000 worth of goods stolen on a bus journey. The former University of Sussex students told police they had £1,000 worth of goods stolen on a bus journey.
Their lawyer said it could take weeks before their appeal was heard.Their lawyer said it could take weeks before their appeal was heard.
Eduardo Tonini said the appeal had been lodged on the basis the women falsely reported a crime but did not go as far as attempting to commit insurance fraud and misrepresenting an offence.Eduardo Tonini said the appeal had been lodged on the basis the women falsely reported a crime but did not go as far as attempting to commit insurance fraud and misrepresenting an offence.
"When they were arrested, the charge of falsely communicating a crime was committed, but for them to have tried to commit insurance fraud would have required them to take a crime report to an insurance company, which did not happen," Mr Tonini said."When they were arrested, the charge of falsely communicating a crime was committed, but for them to have tried to commit insurance fraud would have required them to take a crime report to an insurance company, which did not happen," Mr Tonini said.
As they are free they are not considered a priority Eduardo Tonini, lawyerAs they are free they are not considered a priority Eduardo Tonini, lawyer
"We are just confused about why they were charged with the third offence of misrepresenting a crime."We are just confused about why they were charged with the third offence of misrepresenting a crime.
"We say the charges went two steps too far and should have stopped at the point of falsely communicating a crime.""We say the charges went two steps too far and should have stopped at the point of falsely communicating a crime."
The women, who were arrested on 26 July, were sentenced to 14 months in prison but a judge converted the punishment to a community service penalty and a fine reported to total $6,400 (£3,900). The women, both aged 23, who were arrested on 26 July, were sentenced to 14 months in prison but a judge converted the punishment to a community service penalty and a fine reported to total $6,400 (£3,900).
They are currently staying in an apartment in Rio de Janeiro.They are currently staying in an apartment in Rio de Janeiro.
Mr Tonini said the appeal process in Brazil took longer when the defendants were free.Mr Tonini said the appeal process in Brazil took longer when the defendants were free.
"If a defendant is in prison, an appeal can take place much sooner but as they are free they are not considered a priority," he said."If a defendant is in prison, an appeal can take place much sooner but as they are free they are not considered a priority," he said.
'Calm and relieved''Calm and relieved'
If their appeal fails, the women could face having to carry out community service in a hospital or an institution for the poor, he added.If their appeal fails, the women could face having to carry out community service in a hospital or an institution for the poor, he added.
"Another judge will decide what type of community service would be appropriate," he said."Another judge will decide what type of community service would be appropriate," he said.
He said the women were "calm but not 100% happy because of everything that has happened".He said the women were "calm but not 100% happy because of everything that has happened".
"They are relieved because they are not going to prison.""They are relieved because they are not going to prison."
Miss Andrews and Miss Turner had been due to return to England after a nine-month trip around the world, but were arrested after officers from a specialist tourist support unit apparently became suspicious that they had waited several days before reporting the theft.Miss Andrews and Miss Turner had been due to return to England after a nine-month trip around the world, but 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.