Ghana trial date set for British teenagers

A trial date has been set for two British teenage girls accused of trying to smuggle drugs to the UK from Ghana.

Yasemin Vatansever, the London-born daughter of immigrants from Cyprus, and Yatunde Diya, also a British citizen of Nigerian descent, were arrested at Accra airport as they tried to leave the country on July 2.

The 16-year-olds were allegedly found with £300,000-worth of cocaine but insisted they had been set up.

A juvenile court judge provisionally charged them with trying to smuggle the drugs and set a trial date for July 26. The teenagers face a minimum ten years in jail in Ghana if found guilty.

The pair arrived at a back entrance to the High Court in Ghana's capital Accra in a black car with tinted windows. With jumpers pulled over their heads, they were whisked inside.

Court officials said the two teenagers, who say they are innocent, appeared calm in the dock and gave their names and dates of birth.

"A juvenile court judge provisionally charged them on two counts, possessing and attempting to export controlled substances.

"The charges will be formalised when the trial begins," British High Commission spokesman Gary Nicholls, who attended the closed-door hearing, said.

He said the girls had entered pleas in response to the provisional charges but declined to say what these were.

Sabine Zanker, from Fair Trials Abroad, said she was pleased the case is being processed so quickly: "The lawyer in Ghana has reached an agreement to have the trial expedited, which is in the girls' interest. Their welfare is, of course, our priority.

"It will be a struggle to prepare the defence in that time but it is in their best interests."

Ms Zanker said the girls, who have been in custody since their arrest, were coping well under the circumstances.

She said: "They are getting great support from the British High Commission and they are visited once or twice a day. Representatives from the consulate were in court today. Of course, it is a big shock for them."

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