Craig Alden, 33, ran an orphanage for street children in Planaltina de Goias, which was hailed as a model philanthropic project in the developing world. Speaking from his cell in Planaltina, 40 miles from Brasilia, he said he was the victim of a vendetta after refusing to kowtow to corrupt and unprofessional local authorities.

" I've been very naive," he said. "I now realise how easy it is here for Brazilians to wind a foreigner round their little finger." Prominent members of the international diplomatic community in Brasilia believe he is innocent and are campaigning for his release. The British pressure group Fair Trials Abroad has taken up the case. Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, Brazil's secretary of state for human rights, has also said he will send a representative to Planaltina to investigate the situation.

Alden, from Warboys in Cambridgeshire, founded and ran Abrigo Warboys Brazil, which has looked after more than 400 children over 13 years.

He was taken into custody on July 1 and convicted last month on charges of abusing five children. The only evidence of the crime was the alleged victims' testimony. Two of the boys later retracted their statements - one by letter and one in court - although this evidence was dismissed by the sentencing judge.

" At the very least all this contradictory evidence shows that there is a reasonable doubt in the accusations," said Aldo de Campos Costa, Alden's lawyer. "There have been problems right from the start with the way the attorney and the police have handled this case." Mr Costa said the accusations stemmed from a former resident of the orphanage, who was expelled by Alden and spread made-up stories in revenge. "You have to bear in mind that these youngsters were brought up living on the streets - with no direction, no family, no future - their minds are very open to suggestion."

This week in Planaltina, a poor dormitory town of Brasilia with a population of 80,000, the Guardian met one of the prosecution's main witnesses, Maria Luiza Souza e Silva, a former vice-president of the orphanage.

In court she made leading comments about Alden's sexuality and about the possibility of his having relations with the children in his care. But when asked this week if she had ever seen anything that would lead her to believe that he was sexually abusing any of the children, she said: "I never noticed anything that would suggest [this]. In my heart I don't believe [that he is guilty]."

• Vital defence evidence proving the charges to be false [defence witness statements, voluntary retraction of statements from alleged ‘victims’ and medical evidence] was ignored by the judge.

• In the Judge’s summing up statement she states that Craig’s lawyer did not attend all of the hearings, that she failed to submit a defence statement, that said lawyer did not remain in the courtroom during the hearings and that said lawyer is now subject to investigation for her actions in this case. The judge concluded that the charges were ‘proven’ on the basis of the prosecution case alone.

• It should be noted that Craig has had a well documented dispute with the local government officials directly involved in his case [specifically the Prosecutor and Judge] in that he has resisted their plans to use the Abrigo as a holding centre for drug users and child prostitutes. Craig has consistently refused to accept such individuals because he felt that the children within the orphanage would have been put at risk.
The local Prosecutor in this case has recently sought to have the sentence increased beyond the current 48 years as she feels that it is insufficient punishment for the crimes in question. This action has been greeted with incredulity by ministers within the Federal Government in Brazil.

“ the sentence of Craig Alden to 48 years imprisonment is disgraceful, and, if the Brazilian Courts of Justice cannot correct it, it is right that we should press our Prime Minister, who would press the Foreign Secretary, to try to achieve justice in this matter”
The Rt Hon the Lord Renton, KBE, QC, TD, DL, House of Lords London

During our 4 years in Brazil, working for the Embassy, I have nothing but praise for the work that Craig undertook to vastly improve the lives of those unfortunate children he saved. We met all the children on our visits to the Abrigo and their trips to the Embassy for the Xmas and Easter parties.
We, the Brits and the Brazilians, recognised that Craig provided these children with a “family life” and the stability to improve their circumstances as well as providing the love and care to his son.

When we left Brazil in June 2001 all the children turned up at the airport to wish tia and tio (aunt and uncle) farewell. A very moving moment.
I have three boys myself, all of whom came with us to Brazil and I think I am a fair judge of children’s behaviour. ALL the children from the Abrigo improved beyond recognition during the 4 years we knew them and exhibited all the signs of being cared for to the highest level.

I have spoken to many people, both British and Brazilian who consider Craig’s situation and what he has been through a travesty of justice beyond belief.

We wish you every success in your campaign and our best wishes go to Craig and his family.
Jim and Pauline Jarvie (Alex, Alistair and Jimmy)
Former British Embassy Staff.'

I worked as a volunteer at the Abrigo between 8.1.00 and 11.4.00. I found Craig to be exceptionally hard working with total dedication to the well being of the children in his charge. .......I found his moral standards impeccable and am totally and utterly horrified at the lies and deception that Craig is currently suffering. This is a man of integrity and very high standards'.
Wendy Miller - volunteer at Abrigo

Extracts from report on Wendy's visit:

A Psychiatrist who visited regularly supported children with specialist needs at the Abrigo. During one visit she reported to me that in her experience the children at Abrigo were the healthiest and happiest that she had come across.

Good records were kept on all the children's progress, weight, height etc.,

There were three meals a day - food served typically consisted of -
Breakfast --- Milk and biscuits or milk and cake or milk and a pancake
Lunch --- Fresh vegetables - salad - rice or pasta - brown beans - stew or other meat dish according to what was available
Evening --- Rice or pasta - various dishes

Good personal hygiene was ensured by children showering morning and night.

Sweet corn was grown and pigs fattened also a cow and calf were kept. Children had a football area and park area with swings, slide climbing frames. They were also taken for walks and swimming in the lake. (Pre swimming pool on site)

Children attended school on site - the older children attending a nearby school. All children appeared keen and eager to attend.

Once a month there was a 'birthday party' for the children who had a birthday that month - when volunteers would come with presents and party things.

Extra treats were a visit to town skateboard area or ice cream parlor.

Conclusion: All in all I witnessed the children being cared for and looked after in the best way possible with the facilities and resources that were available. All this has been made possible because of the hard work, dedication and sacrifice of Craig Alden.

''I went out to Brazil and worked at the orphanage for four weeks during March 2000. During this time I never saw anything that led me to believe that any of the kids were being abused in any way. Instead I saw that all of the kids were well looked after, healthy with three meals a day and very happy. While I was there, a health worker that worked for the local authority came to inspect the well being of the children said that they were some of the healthiest kids she had seen living in an orphanage in the area. I feel that what has happened is a downright injustice.......against a man I personally know and whose innocence I support wholeheartedly. I am quite prepared to make a legal statement on Craig's behalf in this matter, and in court if necessary, either in the UK or Brazil'.
Jonathan Scruby - volunteer at Abrigo

"I have been involved, through my job, with Craig and Abrigo Warboys and like most people was tremendously inspired by his work and his dedication. I am dismayed by what has happened to him and what appears to be a clear miscarriage of justice leading to Craig being put in a potentially threatening position"
Ed Bracher - GAP worker

"I joined Craig as a volunteer and was present at the opening of the Abrigo (1992). My age at that time was 54 (I feel this to be relevant due to life experience etc.,) .....I believe these accusations to be false and that Craig is completely innocent of these charges. In my experience I found him to be the most dedicated, hard working, trustworthy and caring young man. I have remained in contact with the Abrigo and have witnessed him give over one third of his life to the Abrigo. I strongly believe this is a miscarriage of justice and that the case should be examined urgently."
Mrs. Jean Berry - volunteer at Abrigo

"I went to work at the Abrigo in Brazil - run by Craig in July-August 2000......Craig is one of the most caring, devoted and hardworking people I have ever met. My time spent at the children's home showed me just how devoted he actually is. The children's welfare was Craig's main priority and from what I could see Craig would do (and did) everything within his means to raise, care for and provide for each and everyone of them. The children at the home see Craig as their uncle or father, the man who has given them everything a REAL father should. Craig is a man who has devoted his whole life to these children and to their basic human needs. He has clothed, fed and educated these children and given them the right to a life which they otherwise may never have had. The children that Craig cares for have come from extremely deprived backgrounds, some of them beaten and kept in terrible conditions before coming to the Abrigo.

During my time at the Abrigo I never once felt the children show Craig any negative feelings or attitude, only a genuine love and respect. They all seemed relaxed and happy around Craig and enjoyed spending time with him. What struck me so strongly was the absolute trust between the children and Craig. These children along with Craig's own young son, have now lost the one person in their lives they could depend upon.

I have absolute faith and belief that Craig Alden is innocent."
Sarah Robilliard - Volunteer at Abrigo

"I was one of two GAP boys who were at the Abrigo Warboys, Brazil from February to the start of July 2002. I was at the Abrigo the unfortunate day that Craig was arrested, which was the day we were due to depart.

The Abrigo was not just an amazing place for its appearance. It was special because of the way it was being run. Everything was for the benefit of the kids. It was like one big family. It was always obvious that the kids appreciated everything Craig did and loved him as a father figure in their lives. They all wanted his attention, all of the time.

Both James and I became firm friends with Craig. We spent a lot of evenings going up to his house for dinner, talking, relaxing, discussing plans and ideas for the Abrigo. We couldn't have wished for a better person to work with. He is an amazing person who has made a huge influence in my life. He has my utmost respect for all he has done and achieved.

I have always believed and always will believe that Craig is completely and utterly innocent. Knowing him as well as we had come to do, he could never do that to any of the kids. He just wouldn't. All of the things that have been made up about him are completely ridiculous. He is innocent."
Edward Box - GAP volunteer 2002 - Joint winner of award presented by Princess Anne The Princess Royal - for outstanding overseas voluntary service at the Abrigo Warboys

From February to June 2000 I was a volunteer in Abrigo Warboys helping Craig to look after the children. Throughout that time there was no question of Craig abusing the children. He managed to keep the home running despite little support for the local authorities and having a constant struggle for funds. I have no doubt of Craig's integrity and his innocence.
Justin Davidson - volunteer helper at Abrigo Warboys

Ispent nearly four years in Brasilia, during this time I visited a few orphanages as part of the British Embassy’s different charitable projects. The children at Abrigo Warboys were by far the happiest and best adjusted of all the children I saw. This was the only orphanage I felt comfortable taking my young daughter to. My abiding memory of these visits is of happy children enjoying life.

I now work with people who have been abused and neglected and the difference in persona is so marked I find it impossible to believe that the children in Craig’s care were anything but well cared for.

I wish you every luck in freeing Craig and only hope that he is able to return to the excellent work he was doing.

Neil Russell - Former British Vice Consul, Brasilia

1. Extract of report prepared by Simon Trundle, Pastor of New Life Church following investigative visits to Planaltina in November/December 2002 and March 2003

• Craig Alden was arrested on July 1st 2002 and charged with abuse and neglect of children under his care at the Abrigo Warboys Orphanage in Planaltina Goias, Brazil.

• Craig Alden, a British Citizen, was convicted in early November and sentenced to 48 years imprisonment to be served in the local civil prison in Planaltina.

• Craig Alden did not have a defence submitted on his behalf because his original lawyer missed a statutory deadline that exists in Brazil for a defence statement to be lodged on behalf of a defendant. Vital defence evidence proving the charges to be false [defence witness statements, voluntary retraction of statements from alleged ‘victims’ and medical evidence] was ignored by the judge because the deadline for a defence was passed. This is clearly stated in the Judge’s summing up statement where it states that Craig’s lawyer [Dr Maria Christina dos Santos] did not attend all of the hearings, that she failed to submit a defence statement, that said lawyer did not remain in the courtroom during the hearings that she did attend and that said lawyer is now subject to investigation for her actions in this case. The judge concluded that the charges were ‘proven’ on the basis of the prosecution case alone.

• It should be noted that Craig has had a well documented dispute with the local government officials directly involved in his case [specifically the Prosecutor and Judge] in that he has resisted their plans to use the Abrigo as a holding centre for drug users and child prostitutes. Craig has consistently refused to accept such individuals because he felt that the children within the orphanage would have been put at risk.

The local Prosecutor in this case has recently sought to have the sentence increased beyond the current 48 years as she feels that it is insufficient punishment for the crimes in question. This action has been greeted with incredulity by ministers within the Federal Government in Brazil, leading one senior minister to state that he considers the charges to have been a ‘set up’ and that Craig was ‘lynched’ by the local Prosecutor and that the application to increase the sentence shows the arrogance of the Prosecutor.

2. Finding Of Visit To Brazil 4th – 7th December 2002
Following my initial investigation in early November, I returned to Brazil with Maureen Alden, mother of Craig Alden, on the 4th December 2002. The following text summarises the content of several meetings with Craig and also with senior British Embassy and Brazilian Government ministers.

2.1 British Embassy
On our arrival in Brazil we met with HMA Sir Roger Bone and Andrew Soper, Deputy Head of Mission.
The embassy had arranged meetings with senior officials at the Ministry of Justice and with Marcello Jardim, General Secretary for European Affairs.
Andrew Soper accompanied Maureen Alden and myself to the meetings with Marcello Jardim, Director General – European Affairs and Antonio De Freitas, Secretary National de Justica. Both of these individuals were very sympathetic to Maureen for her son’s plight and were concerned about the case.
Neither individual appeared able to intervene in the local State of Goiana where Craig is being held. The Federal Government in Brazil has limited influence in local state politics. Only the President of Brazil seems to be able to directly influence the State authorities in Brazil.
These two meetings, whilst reassuring in their nature, ultimately yielded little in terms of raising the profile of the case with the Superior Tribunal of Justice which ruled on the [17th December] not to nullify the case as requested in a habeas corpus prepared by Craig’s new lawyers.

2.2 Legal Update
Maureen Alden and I met with Craig’s new defence lawyers on Thursday 5th December and they outlined their activities on Craig’s behalf as follows:
They had submitted a habeas corpus writ with the Supreme court in Brasilia to have the case and charges against Craig nullified because of a perceived illegality in the proceedings where the Prosecutor acted both as investigator and prosecutor in this case. This habeas corpus will be considered during May 2003.
The lawyers have also prepared a further series of Habeas Corpus applications which they will now submit to the state court in Goiana to gain a re-trial which will allow full examination of the defence evidence.

2.3 In The Course Of Our Visit
Craig Elliot Alden
A series of video interviews were conducted in the course of my visit including an interview covertly filmed with Craig in his cell.
On visiting Craig on the morning of the 5th December 2002 we found him in a single cell adjacent to the entrance to the civil prison. His cell gate was fitted with a blanket to prevent him being viewed by other prisoners. The lighting conditions were very poor inside the cell although an electric light was provided however this is operated by joining two bare wires together and is a hazardous operation to undertake in the dark.
Craig was very distressed by the conditions that he was in. He was undoubtedly fearful for his life and had not left the cell for the previous 7 days because of fear of other prisoners. He is only ever offered exercise along with the remaining prisoners which is totally unacceptable because of the threats made on his life by some of the other inmates in this facility. Craig was provided with a thin mattress on the concrete floor and found it difficult to sleep. We subsequently enquired about why Craig did not have a bed and were told by the Delegado [chief of police] that if he needed a bed we should purchase one in town and have it delivered to him. We did purchase a bed and some additional clothing and personal hygiene items for Craig.
Our initial visit was limited to approximately 25 minutes and we had to apply for permission through the local court for additional visiting privileges on the Friday and Saturday. The official visiting hours are between 11.00 and 19.00 on Sunday. Additional daily visits are allowed by family members to bring food to prisoners. In civil jails in Brazil the prisoner receives a single meal at mid-day [typically comprising of rice and beans] and all other meals must either be provided by family members or purchased from local food outlets and delivered to the civil prison. Craig does not have family nearby to meet his needs and had only a limited supply of food in his cell on the day of our first visit. Craig had not eaten a hot meal in the previous 72 hours.
On the same day, Thursday 5th December, Craig was denied a statutory 2 hour pastoral visit with the local Pastor allegedly on instructions issued by the local judge [reason stated by guard] . The remainder of the prisoners can receive a two hour pastoral visit if they wish on Thursdays between 14.00 and 16.00. Despite the author being introduced as Craig's UK based pastor the visit was curtailed to 25 minutes and no further time was allowed for his mother who had travelled out from the UK to visit her son.
We subsequently applied for a 4 hour visiting period on the Friday and Saturday on compassionate ground but were only granted a 90 minute visit on Friday morning.
The author managed to bring a digital video camera into the prison cell on both the Thursday and Friday and during the visit undertook several interviews with Craig including a direct to camera appeal for assistance to prove his innocence.
In this first video interview he clearly outlines why he feels he is being falsely accused.
On our final visit to Craig we witnessed a visit from 5 Military Police from the original CIOPS facility where Craig was held following his arrest. These officers evidently knew and respected Craig through their visits to the Abrigo Warboys Orphanage and they were friendly to Craig [shaking his hand] and encouraged him to keep on fighting for his innocence.
Craig was in better spirits when we left on Sunday 8th December, however, since our visit we have learned that he has been threatened by a drunken guard and complaints have allegedly been made by other prisoners that he is getting special treatment. Craig is living in fear of his life and is unwilling therefore to take exercise with other prisoners in the prison yard. He is fearful that he will be killed to stop his fight against his imprisonment.

2.4 Conversations With Alleged Victims
Several children have already been dismissed from the Abrigo because of their unwillingness to give a statement against Craig. I have interviewed several of the alleged ‘victims’ live on camera and they have all expressed a belief that Craig has been set up and confirm that they have never been abused in any manner by Craig. These interviews are available for viewing by interested parties. A summary of the key points are listed below:
All four children [alleged victims] state that they were never abused in any manner by Craig but that the Prosecutor refused to accept their statements saying that she 'knew' that abuse had been taking place at the Abrigo. Several of these children wrote to the judge and local police retracting the ‘statement’ made in the presence of the Prosecutor but none of these letters are referred to in the sentencing statement because of the deadline having been passed for lodging defence evidence.
The children implicate a boy called [W], who coincidently was placed at the Abrigo Orphanage by orders of the local Judge and Prosecutor, with abusing several of the younger children at the home. They confirm on camera that Craig did not know that abuse was taking place but that when he was informed of the abuse that he took [W] to the local court and signed a charge sheet against him. These charges have never been investigated to date and [W] now works under the Prosecutor’s patronage at a local youth facility!
Unfortunately the use to which these interviews can be put to at present is limited as they could place the children at risk of harm if it were to be known that the children had accused the Prosecutor of forcing statements from them.

1. Sign the petition for his release. Petition

2. Send Craig a message - to give him much needed support and encouragement. Contact Craig

3. Write to your MP at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA. Alert them to the website and ask him/her to express your concerns to the Foreign Secretary.

4. Voice your concerns by writing to the Foreign Secretary,


Rt. Hon Jack Straw,
Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
Old Admiralty Building,
London, SW1 2PA

5. Write to the Brazilian Ambassador,


Ambassador Jose Bustani,
Brazilian Embassy,
32 Green Street,
London, W1K 7AT

Also Write to Brazilian Embassy London:

Ambassador José Mauricio de Figueiredo BUSTANI
Brazilian Embassy London
32 Green Street
London
W1K 7AT
Tel: +44 (0)20 7399-9000
Fax: +44 (0)20 7399-9100
Web: www.brazil.org.uk
Email: info@brazil.org.uk

6. Visit Craig Alden's Website www.freecraigalden.com