ANKARA (AP) ― The trial of Britain’s Duchess of York for allegedly taking part in the secret filming of two orphanages in Turkey has been adjourned so the plaintiffs can evaluate a proposed out-of-court settlement, Turkey’s state-run news agency said.
Sarah Ferguson faces charges of going “against the law in acquiring footage and violating privacy” of five children at one of the orphanages, the Anadolu Agency said. If convicted, she could receive a maximum sentence of 22 1/2 years in prison.
The trial began Friday, and Ferguson did not attend the opening session, the agency said.
Sarah Ferguson
Ferguson, the former wife of Britain’s Prince Andrew, allegedly made an undercover trip to Turkey in 2008 during which she secretly visited the two state-run orphanages along with two British TV journalists. An indictment filed against Ferguson in January said the two journalists are being separately investigated.
The footage of the five children was filmed at the Saray Rehabilitation and Care Center orphanage on Sept. 22, 2008 near Ankara and shown that year on the British ITV program “Duchess and Daughters: Their Secret Mission.” The filmed images appeared to show the children tied to their beds or left in cribs.
The government has accused the duchess of smearing Turkey’s image, while saying at the same time that it would investigate and address any problems at the orphanages.
The news agency quoted her lawyer, Cansu Sahin, as saying the duchess is seeking an out-of-court settlement. On Friday, the court told Sahin that Ferguson should attend next hearing, Anadolu reported.
