Two Bradford sisters today said their father faces at least another four months in atrocious jail conditions before he stands a chance of release - despite being cleared of all charges.

Asaf Darr, 46, was arrested in the Dominican Republic on November 19, 1999, along with two Dutch colleagues on suspicion of money laundering.

The three men were cleared of all charges in a trial in March this year after proving that the money came from legitimate sources, but have been kept in jail while prosecutors appeal against their acquittals. His daughters Sarah, 20, of Bushill Fold, Queensbury, and Sophie, 19, of Old Thornton Road, Fairweather Green, have been told that the appeal will not be heard until October 24.

While she is upset that her father has to remain in jail, Sarah is not surprised at the outcome.

"It's just the usual thing. We expected the appeal to be a few months away, but it's our embassy - they should push for a closer trial date, or even for the case to be dropped," she said.

"That's the date they've said now, but it's not guaranteed to stay at that date. They could go to him and say it's going to be next week, or it could be even longer."

Mr Darr, 46, was brought up in Bradford and moved to London in 1977 when he married Sarah's and Sophie's mother, Linda. The sisters moved back to Bradford with their mother, when the marriage split up eight years ago, to be closer to their family.

Mr Darr subsequently moved to America, where he works as a trader in precious metals.

He was on a way back from a business trip to Haiti to buy gold when he was arrested at the land border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

On his arrest Mr Darr was found to be carrying more than $750,000 US dollars (£535,000) with which he intended to fund the gold deal.

He was not given a receipt for the cash when arrested, and despite assurances from the Foreign Office, Sarah fears that the money may not be returned.

"The Foreign Office has guaranteed that the money's there, but no matter who you are you can't guarantee something like that for somebody else.

"My dad doesn't deserve this at all. I've no faith in this country. My hope has been shattered."

Mr Darr is one of 3,000 prisoners held in a jail designed for 700 inmates. He has to pay for his own bed, and is even forced to buy food and drinking water from prison guards.

The case has been taken up by the charity Fair Trials Abroad. Director Stephen Jakobi feels there is cause for concern over the amount of time Mr Darr has been held, and Miss Darr hopes he will now take up the case.

"Hopefully he'll be able to influence the Government a bit more."