Snorkhell! British dad facing three years in Turkish prison after finding a few

[Neil]

A BRITISH dad is in a hellhole Turkish jail over a few coins he found snorkelling on holiday.

Toby Robyns, 52, was arrested in front of his horrified family as they prepared to fly home.


Brit Toby Robyns is being detained in a hellhole Turkish prison

Airport staff in Bodrum said the coins were historical artefacts.

A friend of ambulance driver Toby, of Southwick, West Sussex, said: “His family are distraught”.

The father of five has been held on suspicion of “finding Turkish artefacts without notifying authorities”.

His alleged offence carries a three-year jail sentence.

Family pal James Stoneham, said: “They are accusing him of taking Turkish artefacts which he was obviously unaware of.

“It was a huge shock for everybody. This was harmless fun on a holiday you’ve enjoyed — and now he has been put in prison.
 
Toby picked up 13 old coins he found while scuba diving, and decided to take them home as souvenirs

“He’s going to have to be held for possibly a month.”

Ambulance driver Toby found 13 old coins and decided to take them home as a souvenir of his fortnight-long break in Turgutreis.

But security staff at Bodrum airport who found them in his hand luggage deemed them historical treasures.

James, 47, added: “He found a number of coins among the rocks and sand.

“When he went to get his flight home they dragged him off and searched his hand luggage.”

Toby, of Southwick, near Brighton, West Sussex, was arrested in front of his family.

“He was taken to a police station and hauled before a court the following day.

His distraught wife Heidi, 43, a doctor’s receptionist, and their two sons Baxter, nine, and Brodie, seven, have since flown home.

 
Security staff at Bodrum airport who found the coins in Toby’s hand luggage deemed them historical treasures
 
There are said to be up to 25 shipwrecks from the 4th to 16th centuries around Yassi Ada island – four miles from where the coins were found

Toby has been remanded in custody until a decision is made whether to charge him.

It could take four to six weeks as parts of Turkey have a judicial holiday this month.

It is understood that Toby is being held at a small white-bricked compound called Milas Prison, which holds about 70 inmates.

Guards are stationed at the front gate and on the roof of the detention centre.
 
Toby is being held in Milas prison for up to six weeks, while a decision is made whether to charge him

There are said to be up to 25 shipwrecks from the 4th to 16th centuries around Yassi Ada island — just four miles from where Toby’s found the coins.

Locals believe a 5.3 magnitude earthquake which struck Bodrum two weeks ago may have shifted the coins closer to the shore.

A family member, who asked not to be named, added: “Toby is always snorkelling. It’s his hobby.

“He’s definitely not a smuggler and that’s what I think they are trying to say.

[simond]

Flipping heck!!!! 

[celticspikey]

Yep trying to come back through customs with Ancient coins will do it..  ..have to feel for him and his family thou.   

I guess he won't have Wifi, TV, games, like we do in our prisons for our bad boys...

[IFINDNOTHING]

Now that seems a little severe. I bet he wishes he posted them home now

[dingdong]

Well !!!....it's a difficult one isn't it,don't get me wrong,I really do feel very very sorry for his family waiting in limbo at the behest of the authorities....BUT before we all rush to make our judgements non of us truly know ALL the facts..If their law states that it's a crime...then a crime it is..after all is the same over here isn't it..."Ignorance of the law is NO excuse ".... anyway he will be out in a couple of days...just you wait and see.

[Chainsaw Bampy]

I feel for the bloke and his family, if someone was caught for the same thing in this country they would have a very cushy time in one of our jails if  it even got that far    [ I doubt it would]  I just hope they don't make an example of him and I hope he gets  out asap and is free of the rat hole they call prison.   

[Greg]

No jail for these two?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/10941834/Divers-fined-for-plundering-historic-shipwrecks.html