DAISY GETS 10 YEARS IN INDIAN JAIL

BOURNEMOUTH backpacker Daisy Angus has been sentenced to 10 years
in an Indian prison after being found guilty of drug smuggling.

Fitness instructor Daisy, 26, protested her innocence and sobbed
loudly as she was handed the lengthy jail term by a judge sitting at
the Special NDPS Court in Mumbai.

She has already spent nearly four years in prison on remand while her
slow-moving case was heard and will be freed in six years.

Daisy was stopped by customs officers at Mumbai airport on November 8,
2002, as she was about to board a plane to the Netherlands. The image
of her luggage during x-ray examination roused suspicion. The bag was
examined and customs officers discovered 10kg of cannabis in a false
bottom of her suitcase. continued...

When Special Judge PB Sawant announced the conviction, a tearful and
frightened Daisy said: "I have already served almost four years in
jail for a crime I did not commit.

This false case against me killed my father and grandmother."

Expressing their disappointment, Daisy's mum Nadine, younger sister
Tenderesse and uncle Pascal said they believed Daisy was innocent.

Nadine said: "Expecting a fair trial, Daisy spoke the truth from the
beginning."

Daisy's ordeal has lasted three and-a-half years and involved more
than 50 witnesses and three judges.

Her devoted parents, Nadine and John Angus, made numerous trips from
their Southbourne home to visit and listen to the court case.

But sadly in December 2005, John lost his fight with leukaemia and a
heartbroken Daisy was unable to negotiate with the Indian authorities
a return for the funeral.

Daisy stood accused of drug smuggling with Israeli acquaintance Yoram
Kadesh but he was freed by the trial judge due to lack of evidence.

Outside the court he said: "I just want to go home."

Daisy, who was on a backpacking trip when she was arrested, also
received a fine of Rs2 lakh roughly UKP2,500 for the charges of
possession and attempted exportation of 10kg of cannabis.

If she cannot pay the fine she will have to serve an extra two years
in jail.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said officials would continue to
visit Daisy in Byculla District Prison, Mumbai. She added: "We do have
a prisoner transfer agreement in India but whether Daisy will apply
for that is up to her and her legal advisors."