Fergie Duchess Of York facing Turkish orphan charges
Fergie Duchess Of York facing Turkish orphan charges
Exclusive By Emily Nash 20/11/2009
The Duchess of York was served with legal papers by Scotland Yard yesterday, bringing her a step closer to standing trial in Turkey.
She is accused of breaking laws that ban secret filming and trespassing on government property in the country.
British police acted on behalf of the authorities in Ankara when serving the documents on Sarah Ferguson, 50, whose daughters are fifth and sixth in line to the throne.
The undercover film the duchess helped to make exposed appalling conditions in Turkish orphanages.
Yesterday cameraman Chris Rogers and an ITV documentary producer were also served with legal papers. It is understood they request statements from all three on their activities in Turkey which could form the basis for an extradition request.
The producer is on another undercover job and ITV would not give his name to protect his identity. A Home Office spokesman said: “It is not our usual policy to comment on cases.
“However, the Home Office can confirm it has received a formal request for legal assistance concerning Sarah, Duchess of York. It has been referred to the Metropolitan Police to progress.”
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The Met said: “A request for international legal assistance has been received. The legality of the request has been agreed and the Metropolitan Police Service has been asked to progress the request. A letter is being sent to three individuals in order to organise for the collection of the information sought by the Turkish authorities.”
Fergie went to Turkey last year with younger daughter Princess Eugenie, 19, to probe the treatment of mentally and physically disabled children in orphanages.
The duchess wore a dark wig and headscarf and posed as an aid worker to get into the Saray rehab-ilitation centre near Ankara.
The TV exposé, filmed by Rogers, showed emaciated children tied to cots by their hands and ankles and left in soiled clothes. It sparked a furious diplomatic row. The Turkish government launched an investigation into “violations” of its tough privacy laws and ban on undercover filming.
Anyone convicted of breaching “rights to privacy of communications” by filming in secret could face up to four-and-a-half years in jail.
The country’s family affairs minister Nimet Cubukcu said: “Sarah Ferguson is trying to launch a smear campaign opposing Turkey’s EU membership.”
The country fears bad publicity on human rights abuses could block its acceptance by Europe.
Last night a spokesman for Fergie, who dropped plans to write a forward for Rogers book on the orphanage story, said: “The duchess will be co-operating fully to ensure the quick resolution of this issue.”
Princess Eugenie is not believed to be under investigation.