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Britons win Brazil fraud appeal Britons win Brazil fraud appeal
(about 2 hours later)
Two British law graduates held in Brazil for insurance fraud have been acquitted on appeal, their lawyer says.Two British law graduates held in Brazil for insurance fraud have been acquitted on appeal, their lawyer says.
Renato Tonini said Brazil's High Court found police had obtained information to secure their arrest illegally.Renato Tonini said Brazil's High Court found police had obtained information to secure their arrest illegally.
Shanti Andrews and Rebecca Turner were arrested in July after telling police they had been robbed while backpacking.Shanti Andrews and Rebecca Turner were arrested in July after telling police they had been robbed while backpacking.
The 23-year-olds had pleaded guilty to attempted insurance fraud and received 16-month jail sentences, later converted to community service.The 23-year-olds had pleaded guilty to attempted insurance fraud and received 16-month jail sentences, later converted to community service.
Mr Tonini said the women, both University of Sussex law graduates, had been given back their passports and were now free to leave Brazil.Mr Tonini said the women, both University of Sussex law graduates, had been given back their passports and were now free to leave Brazil.
"The police did not observe the rules under Brazilian law to go into somebody's room. They did not have an order from the judge to go into the room," he said."The police did not observe the rules under Brazilian law to go into somebody's room. They did not have an order from the judge to go into the room," he said.
"The High Court recognised this and decided to acquit," he said."The High Court recognised this and decided to acquit," he said.
Lawyers for the pair launched the appeal in August.Lawyers for the pair launched the appeal in August.
DelightedDelighted
The Foreign Office confirmed the two women had been released from their sentence and said arrangements were being made for their return to the UK.The Foreign Office confirmed the two women had been released from their sentence and said arrangements were being made for their return to the UK.
Miss Turner, of Berkshire, and Miss Andrews, of Sussex, were near the end of a nine-month trip round the world when they were arrested. Miss Turner, of Newbury, Berkshire, and Miss Andrews, of Sussex, were near the end of a nine-month trip round the world when they were arrested.
They were delighted with the court's decision, Mr Tonini said.They were delighted with the court's decision, Mr Tonini said.
"They are obviously very happy. They could not believe it happened like this," he said."They are obviously very happy. They could not believe it happened like this," he said.
Their mothers had travelled to Rio de Janeiro to be with them for the appeal, he added.Their mothers had travelled to Rio de Janeiro to be with them for the appeal, he added.
If their appeal had failed the women, who had been living in an apartment in Rio de Janeiro, could have faced community service in a hospital or an institution for the poor, he said.If their appeal had failed the women, who had been living in an apartment in Rio de Janeiro, could have faced community service in a hospital or an institution for the poor, he said.
The women were arrested on 26 July after telling police that goods worth £1,000 were stolen from them during a bus journey in Brazil.The women were arrested on 26 July after telling police that goods worth £1,000 were stolen from them during a bus journey in Brazil.
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.
They were taken into custody but freed on bail a week later.They were taken into custody but freed on bail a week later.
Following their arrest, Miss Andrews's mother, Simone Headley, who lives in Frant, East Sussex, said the two friends were traumatised by their ordeal and that it had been a "misunderstanding".Following their arrest, Miss Andrews's mother, Simone Headley, who lives in Frant, East Sussex, said the two friends were traumatised by their ordeal and that it had been a "misunderstanding".