Campaigners back jailed woman

Daisy Angus was arrested six weeks ago in Bombay

A campaign to free a woman jailed for drugs offences in India has been backed by Fair Trials Abroad.

Daisy Angus, 22, from Bournemouth, Dorset, was arrested six weeks ago at Bombay airport on her way to Berlin with a friend.

As she went through customs, Indian officials found 10 kilos of hashish in a suitcase being used by Ms Angus but which belonged to her friend.

Stephen Jakobi, director of Fair Trials Abroad, said Ms Angus's story was a classic tale of an innocent being duped by a professional drug smuggler.

Ms Angus will have to wait a year for her trial

On Wednesday Ms Angus, a trainee fitness instructor, was transferred to hospital after contracting malaria.

Her father John is in Bombay fighting for her release while her mother Nadine is at home in Bournemouth to put pressure on the UK Government and Indian High Commission.

Mrs Angus, 46, said that she believed her daughter had been tricked into taking the suitcase through customs.

Mrs Angus said: "She packed her backpack, which broke at the last minute.

Dubious charges

"Her friend said 'Do not worry, put some of your clothes inside my suitcase'.

"She did not carry the suitcase. It was only at the customs x-ray that the officer picked it out because it was heavy.

"Daisy said 'It is my friend's, it has some of my clothes in it, you can open it, it will be fine'.

"It was then they found the 10kg of hashish inside."

Mr Jakobi, from Fair Trials Abroad, said: "These are dubious charges against her and I am reasonably satisfied that as long as all the evidence is put before the court and she has good lawyers, then she has a chance of being acquitted."

Ms Angus is not expected to be charged for another month, with the trial not due to commence for another year.