DON'T BE TOO TOUGH ON OUR GIRLS.. Mum's plea as two Brits are arrested in Rio.

Byline: EUAN STRETCH

THE mum of one of two young Britons arrested in Brazil over an alleged insurance scam yesterday begged officials to treat her daughter fairly.

Law graduates Shanti Andrews and Becky Turner, both 23, are behind bars after police accused them of lying about being robbed to fraudulently claim pounds 1,000.

They were arrested in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday when police are said to have found items in their room they reported stolen.

But Shanti's mother Simone Headley, 39, said there had been a misunderstanding and both women were "absolutely traumatised".

She added: "I spoke to her and she seems devastated. Shanti and Rebecca are two hard-working young girls, never been in trouble."

JUSTICE

Speaking from the family's large home in Frant, Kent, Mrs Headley added: "This unfortunate incident came at the end of their nine-month journey around the world.

"We hope the Brazilian justice system will see it as a misunderstanding and the girls will be able to come home safely. We are asking them to please show the world fairness and leniency."

The terrified pair, who met at the University of Sussex in Brighton, have been sleeping on a floor in a women's prison full of murderers and drug-traffickers. Shanti's father Alan Andrews flew to Rio yesterday and was allowed to see her briefly.

The girls' lawyer Renato Tonini said: "They are nervous and scared. The prison is unpleasant. It is very hard for them." He said window cleaning firm boss Mr Andrews, 52, had been "very upset" by the conditions he saw.

The girls, who were due to fly home on Monday, had told police thieves stole a pounds 240 mobile phone, a pounds 450 digital camera, a pounds 600 iPod and pounds 60 cash as they travelled on a bus. Officers were suspicious and it is claimed they later found some of the items in their suitcases at a backpackers' hostel. The two will face between one and five years jail if convicted of fraud.

Police chief Liliane Olimpio said: "It is common for tourists to make a claim the day before they leave Brazil, which is one of the reasons our officers found it suspicious."

But Mr Tonini said: "They say they made a mistake in their claim. They were robbed and the police only found a few of the items that they reported stolen."

CAPTION(S):

HELD Andrews, left, and Turner ARRESTED Turner, left, and Andrews in police costumes