MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brit to trial for incident with Argentine flag

An Argentine appeals court ratified the indictment of a British tourist accused of theft and “abusing national symbols” for which he will face an oral and public trial.

David Fleming, 20, together with Benjamin Sargent from Australia and Darren Redden from South Africa last January 5 during a night of heavy drinking stole an Argentine flag from a mast outside the Irish pub Galaway in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego.

According to witnesses, who called the Police, the flag was unfurled as "booty", later trampled and finally dumped into a dust bin.

Mr. Fleming currently in Buenos Aires will have to return to Ushuaia for the oral and public trial while his two drinking companions have been acquitted and once their passports have been returned will be able to leave Argentina.

The most probable outcome of the trial is that if not sentenced to jail, Mr. Fleming will be expelled from Argentina. Mr. Fleming is being assisted by a public defence counsellor.

The three foreigners involved in the flag incident are currently free on bail after depositing 3,500 US dollars each plus handing in their passports.

The incident last January caused quite a commotion in Ushuaia which officially is the capital of the province of Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur.