Brit comedian 'could be jailed' for three years in Turkey after 'embarrassing mistake'
A British comedian who walked out of a Turkish Zara store without paying could face up to three years behind bars, despite going back to apologise upon realising her mistake.
On July 22, Cerys Nelmes, a stand-up comic from Bristol, said it was a mistake and claimed she left the store with clothes before realising she had not gone through the till.
After returning to the store to hand back the items and offering to pay, Nelmes says she was instead detained, locked in a room for hours without explanation, and eventually arrested for shoplifting, reports the Mirror.
She said she was taken to a police station, pressured to sign documents in a language she could not read, and held in a cell for 24 hours with no food, water or a toilet.
She said: "I was told they didn't understand me." The next day, she was brought before a judge who released her but banned her from leaving the country. She now faces a potential three-year sentence as the case proceeds.
Nelmes says she is stranded in Turkey, unable to afford accommodation and missing out on work back home, putting her and her son at risk of losing their UK home.
She said: "I'm ok and have been taken in by a Turkish family who gave me food and a bed. I don't deserve all the kind words from people but I am very grateful."
Recounting what happened, she said that she had left the store with several items of clothing before realising her error. Despite returning to the store, claiming she had returned the items and wanted to pay, Nelmes was seized for shoplifting.
The English stand-up comic explained the incident in a social media post saying: "On Tuesday I left a Zara store in Istanbul without paying for items.
"I returned straight away and handed the items to staff. I was asked to pay and I said I would and the manager accepted this. To cut a long story short I was then taken to a locked room where hours later after no communication from anyone I was taken away by police and held in a police station and was asked to sign things I couldn't read.
"I was put in a prison cell for 24 hours with no food or toilet facilities. When I asked for water, I was told they didn't understand me.
"I was handcuffed and taken for fingerprints and mugshots at 3am. I was handcuffed and taken to court the following day and put in a cell.
"I appeared before the judge and was told by a translator that I was released, but unable to leave Turkey for an undetermined amount of time. He said I was lucky to not be put in prison but I currently face up to three years. I have to report to a local police station every Monday.
"I am lucky I have good friends in Turkey who are currently looking after me, and trying to translate the paperwork. I have no money, no earnings coming in from home, and I am running out of important medication. I will lose my home which I share with my son, and livelihood.
"I am not looking for sympathy. I made a mistake which I tried to immediately rectify. I am embarrassed for my friends, my family, and I have made my 78-year-old mum unwell. I will never forgive myself for what I have done.
"I believe I did it for mental health medical problems, but ultimately there is no excuse."
The comedian has asked for public support as the ongoing court proceedings are causing her to lose work and earnings. The British Embassy said in a short statement that they are providing their support.
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