A Cleckheaton woman could be trapped in Kenya for up to seven years after the trial into her involvement in an alleged multi-million pound fraud case was suspended.

The fate of Kerry Anne Page, who is charged with theft and handling stolen goods, was due to be decided in Nairobi yesterday.

But the trial has been adjourned for three months to allow a further 45 prosecution witnesses to be flown into the Kenyan capital.

And with the country gripped by a rising tide of violence, legal experts acting for the 28-year-old have warned her the matter could take between two and seven years to resolve.

Until the Kenyan authorities agree to return her passport she will remain stranded.

Her MP Mike Wood has been in close contact with the authorities in Kenya, the United Nations in New York and the Foreign Office since her arrest last October. Today Mr Wood, Labour MP for Batley and Spen, pledged to do everything within his power to bring her back home.

Pete Ward, media representative of Mike Wood MP, said he had already spoken to the Foreign Office about it and was "very concerned".

"He will take the matter further today and intends to contact the United Nations in New York. He is determined to do as much as he can to help Miss Page and will keep on going until something is done."

Her mother Elaine Garnham says she was devastated when she heard the long-awaited trial had been suspended.

Speaking from the family home in Old Popplewell Lane, Scholes, Mrs Garnham said: "I am furious and Kerry is absolutely devastated.

"I am angry because she has done nothing wrong and yet the British authorities have not intervened. She is stranded until they agree to return her passport.

"The authorities have told her she will have to wait a month to put in an application, and if it is refused she won't be able to apply again for six months. I don't know how we are all going to cope. The money is running out and without a passport she can't return to her job in Dubai.

"This has turned all our lives upside down and I just can't see an end to it."

At the opening of the trial on Tuesday Deputy Director of Prosecutions Momanyi Bwonwonga told the court Miss Page helped steal vehicles, containers and fork-lift trucks worth £200,000 during a UN relief mission in Somalia during 1995.

The first prosecution witness, UN logistics expert Eric Ball, told the court he was sent to Nairobi to examine UN cargo containers which had been disguised. When opened they were found to contain UN property. At the time of the alleged offences Miss Page was working as a buyer for Morris Catering, which had a UN contract to supply food to relief workers, but she claims she was rarely in the area of the operation.

Miss Page is jointly charged with theft and handling stolen goods. If found guilty she could face up to 25 years in a Kenyan jail.

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