Duchess of York faces criminal charges over Turkish child-scandal

A criminal complaint has been lodged against the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, after her TV exposé of orphanages in Turkey in November sparked a diplomatic row between Britain and Turkey. She posed as a potential donor to gain access to orphanages.

The ITV film showed often shocking conditions the Turkish children are being kept in. The Turkish Government has also accused the Duchess of using the film to run a smear campaign against Turkey, just it is trying to join the European Union. Interpol has also asked the Duchess of York for her contact details after she was accused of a “violation of privacy” while filming undercover. The Duchess, 49, disguised herself in a wig and headscarf and posed as a potential donor to get access to the homes for disabled and abandoned children. The Tonight programme enraged the Turkish authorities - who now have launched a criminal complaint accusing her of violating the children’s privacy. Yesterday a spokeswoman for the Duchess refused to comment. But an ITV spokeswoman stood by the programme and the reporting methods used. Neriman Kocak, a director of the Saray orphanage near the Turkish capital Ankara, denied that the children were tied to their beds, despite the scenes filmed during the Ferguson expose. see