Tough Love
‘IF you thought David Blunkett was an unforgiving Home Secretary, a court in Turkey has sentenced six children to up to 22 years in prison for stealing less than 40 pence from two classmates.
The children, who at the time of the incident three years ago were aged between 11 and 15 years, were found guilty of theft and using threatening behaviour.
The judge ruled that the children had been old enough to realise what they were doing heard when they threatened two children with a knife and stole 1 million Turkish lira – around 37 pence.
After two years in custody, the oldest children have now been sentenced to 22 years in jail with the youngest children given 10 year sentences.
Unsurprisingly, the children are appealing to the country’s High Court.’
Posted: 4th, August 2004 | In: Strange But True Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
