London:
The Duchess of York could face more than 20 years in jail, after Turkish authorities charged her for breaching the "privacy" of orphans in that country by secretly filming them for a TV documentary.
Turkey's chief prosecutor's office yesterday announced the pressing of charges against Sarah Ferguson, 52, for filming five orphans without their consent. They sought the UK's help in obtaining evidence against her, media reports said.
The Duchess of York had allegedly filmed the children when she visited the state-run orphanage near Ankara while making a documentary for the
ITV Tonight program in 2008. If found guilty, she could face up to 22-and-a-half years in prison.
Though the UK's Home Office has confirmed receiving a request for "mutual legal assistance" from Turkish government, it refused to say whether it would co-operate, the British newspaper
The Daily Telegraph said.
The Duchess's spokesman told the media: "The Duchess of York has fully co-operated with both Turkish and British authorities at all times on this issue. British ministers refused to accede to the further request for legal assistance from Turkey so from a UK perspective we have been told by the Home Office the case is closed."
In fact, in 2008, the Duchess wore a disguise to enter the Saray orphanage near Ankara, where more than 700 physically challenged children are housed. She allegedly filmed scenes of orphans tied to their beds and left in cots all day.
At the time, the Turkish government accused her of being involved in a "smear campaign" when Turkey was trying to get membership of the European Union. But the Duchess said she was "apolitical" and "with courage, was going to stand by the film."
In 2010, the Duchess was in the news after being caught in a newspaper sting operation. She was offering to sell access to the Duke of York, her former husband, for £500,000.