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HUMAN RIGHTS FOR EACH PERSON REGARDLESS OF AGE, RACE, RELIGION OR POLITICS
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Jody Ryan Aggett [UK]
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LATEST NEWS RELEASE
ForeignPrisoners.com has just received confirmation that
Jody Aggett & his girlfriend Kristin have been acquitted on
all charges. Kristin is home already and Jody is due to be
released today. The FPSS sends it’s best wishes to Jody,
Kristin & their families! - What great News! - More Information to Come as soon as available.
Media Enquiries Please Click Here
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Jody Aggett is a British male citizen detained in Bangkwang Central Prison, Thailand. According to information provided to Foreign Prisoner Support Service by Jody's family, he returned to Thailand in 2001, to arrange travel to the UK for his pregnant girlfriend [Ramphia Lo]. Owing to the gestation period of her pregnancy, Doctors advised the couple to delay any travel plans until after the baby was born. Jody was unprepared financially, but through a friend, found lodgings in a house leased by a Dutch/Canadian man, Adrian van Ommering.
Jody and Ramphia occupied a room on the first floor of the premises in return for some cleaning work and the responsibility of opening and closing the travel agency on the ground floor. Unbeknownst to Jody and Ramphia, the travel agency was under surveillance and alleged criminal activities of the leasor, Adrian van Ommering.
On the 20th of November 2001, based on intelligence from a police informer, the Thai police raided the travel agency and discovered drugs. Employees of the travel agency were arrested. Jody and Ramphia were also detained along with Adrian Van Ommering and his Thai girlfriend.
Jody was sent to BangKwang Central prison in Bangkok [see Bangkwang prison pages] and Ramphia [nickname Kristin] was sent to Lard Yao Women's Correctional Centre. Their child was born behind bars.
Some 17 months later, their trial began.
The police informer, having provided the intelligence to the Thai police which resulted in the raid, was not present at the trial but the employees of the travel agency were and they each confirmed Jody and Kristin's account of the events. Those same travel agency employees, who also lived on the premises, were free to go.
The Court sentenced Adrian Van Ommering and his girlfriend to death which was later commuted to life imprisonment. Jody and Kristin received the exact same sentence. They are currently appealing the sentence.
Jody and Ramphia's baby [Ryan Aggett] is now living with Jody's parents in the UK.
Jody's family claim that there were several anomaly's that warrant further consideration of the case. The family allege that the conviction was based on the information of the police informer's reports that failed to mention either Jody or Ramphia as participants in the drugs production scheme, that there was no supporting evidence submitted to the court that would link Jody and Ramphia to a crime. Jody claims he did not have access to legal representation at the initial arrest. His statement was prepared in Thai language which he has no comprehension of. Jody was unable to comprehend the trial proceedings given the language difficulties and interpretation. Adrian Van Ommering's Thai girlfriend initially submitted a statement to the court that implicated Jody and Ramphia in particpation of the offence. She later retracted her statement and a copy of such is with Jody's lawyer.
Jody Aggett continues to be detained in Bangkwang Central Prison and is being treated very well by the Thai Authorities. He is however anxious to be reunited with his son Ryan. He hopes that the Thai Authorities will show mercy to his plight.
Location:
Bangkwang Central Prison.
Building #12
117 Nonthaburi Road,
Nonthaburi Bangkok 11000, Thailand.
Consular Section
British Embassy
1031 Wireless Road,
Lumpini, Pathumwan
Bangkok 10330 Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2 305 8333 ext: 2334, 2318
Fax: +66 (0) 2 255 6051
Email: Consular.Bangkok@fco.gov.uk
Foreign Prisoner Support Service would like to sincerely thank the family of Jody Aggett for the photographs they have supplied in support of this campaign. We hope that Jody, Ramphia and baby Ryan will be successful in their appeals and soon be reunited in the UK.
FPSS
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Our Son Jody
A mother's heartache
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by Lorna Aggett - 31 August 2005
'I don't even really know where to start, as having a child in prison is just so hard to grasp. It’s so much easier to push it to the back of your mind and pretend all is well. Then every now and then reality hits home. The pain can be so bad at times that you feel as though your heart is twisting into huge big knots. The fear, the feeling of helplessness, any parent would know that as a parent you protect and love your child no matter what. Now, all we can do is love Jody, be there for him, and do anything and everything in our power to help get him out of Bangkwang prison. The waiting for each and every court case has been such a tester for us.
We try so hard not to get angry as anger gets you no where. But how do we suppress our anger when we know our child is sitting in prison an innocent young man, with his whole life ahead of him - a beautiful young baby boy waiting for his Daddy to come home and do all the things that only a Dad can do. How can a person be put in prison because of what another person said? Surely there should be at least a little bit of evidence of his guilt and not just the word of the woman who was manufacturing the drugs. Even when she retracted her claim (that it was Jody and Kristin who were manufacturing the drugs,) that was totally ignored at their second court hearing. But Jody, he is just such a shining example to us all - he has faced up to the whole situation with such courage and has had to grow up very quickly. He went is there as a young man of 24 - a people pleaser - ready to believe anything and every thing that he was told, his only crime!
His partner Kristin was also imprisoned. She was 8 months pregnant at the time and gave birth to a beautiful little baby boy in January 2002. Ryan now lives with us and what a joy he is. Every time we look at him we just feel so overwhelmed with love and so grateful to God for allowing us to take care of this beautiful child of His - a little bit of Jody and Kristin in our home.
Click Here to Read Complete Letter
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Jody Aggett Campaign Updates
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Swindon man to be released from Thai jail
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A SWINDON man jailed in Thailand on a drugs charge has had his conviction quashed and could be home within the next week, it was revealed today.
Jody Aggett, who has been in prison since his arrest in 2001, was acquitted by the country's supreme court, the British Embassy in Bangkok said.
ForeignPrisoners.com (FPSS), which has campaigned for Mr Aggett's release, said his family learned the news yesterday.
ForeignPrisoners.com adviocates said: "The family was informed by the consulate that he has been acquitted and all the charges against him dropped.
"We are waiting for official confirmation."
Mr Aggett, whose four-year-old son lives with his parents, Lorna and Tony, in Westlea, was jailed for life - commuted from the death penalty - in 2003.
Click Here for Complete Story
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Jody Aggett's Parents -
Bringing up baby
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Tony and Lorna Aggett
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Five years ago, Tony Aggett and his wife Lorna moved back from South Africa to live in Swindon.
While they were in South Africa, their son Jody, now in his 20s, met and fell in love with Kristin, who's from Thailand.
The couple planned to live together in the UK, but first Kristin had to go back to Thailand to get the paperwork sorted,
and eventually Jody joined her there.
Not long after, Kristin became pregnant, so the couple decided to stay in Thailand until the baby was born.
But then something went horribly wrong.
Tony and Lorna, Jody's mum and dad tell David Stafford more...
Further Reading: Family's hope for Thai jail man
play sound file
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Jody Aggett Campaign -
Update 20 October 2006
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FPSS member Mark Gyssler of Germany, visted Jody Aggett on Wednesday, October 18, 2006, in Bang Kwang prison. The following feedback from Mark is tremendous and gives us all an idea of where things are currently.
"Thanks to FPSS I knew that he wanted fruit so I brought him apples, oranges, bananas, water melon, and cookies. One can easily buy all this stuff at the local market...a 10 minute walk east of the prison. The prison shop only operates through a counter and the menu was in Thai, so it would have more or less been a lottery for me. I also bought white rice as listed on FPSS as one of Jody's wishes. However, they would not let me take that in so this should be removed from the website. Jody told me that Helen's [FPSS member] delivery of white rice was also confiscated inside Bang Kwang. The official reason is that inmates do not have the facilities to cook which makes not much sense given that noodles etc. are allowed and Jody does have a microwave. Well, in my case, a taxi driver was quite happy for a 5kg white rice surprise package. Jody is the man! He was just so happy to be able to talk to someone other than his prison friends. We had a great chat and he thinks he'll be transferred to the UK in due course. He does not take things too seriously at Bangkwang, which I think may be the best thing to do. His job in the prison pharmacy helps him a lot he says. He said it does give him a daily routine just like in the outside world, plus he has something meaningful to do. Needless to say, he sends regards to his family and to Kristin. Within one hour, we covered all sorts of things ranging from Bangkok accommodation tips to the various flavours of beers around the world. Especially the latter topic took a lot of time to be discussed.Please send my best regards to Lorna [Jody's mother]. Her son is doing well. Bangkwang is not going to break this man!" Best regards, Mark Gyssler, Germany.
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Jody Aggett Campaign -
Update 28 March 2006
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Thank you to those supporters who are now writing letters to Jody and offering to
visit when they are in Thailand.
It truly means alot to him and his family to have your support.
Jody is trying to stay positive but the nightmare of his situation is a heavy burden to bare.
His son Ryan is growing up without him and as each month passes, it is more difficult to
explain why Daddy isn't coming home.
Please help us to keep Jody's spirits alive.
Your letters and care packages are a lifeline to him in an otherwise darkened place of helplessness.
Please also read additional information provided at BangKwang Prison pages [below prisoner lists]
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Jody Aggett Campaign -
1 March 2006 Update
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FPSS Advocate Helen paid a visit to Jody today and says he was his usual
cheerful self.
"Jody said to say thank you to all at FPSS and those that have written and
visited after getting info from the website. It is working!" says Helen.
"He had a visit from some American Christians recently who said they will
return in April and will try to help him.
Jody is still in the pharmacy [Hospital section of the prison] but it seems
some have complained about him being there. It's the usual politics and
Jody is trying to remain optimistic. Jody enjoys working at the hospital as
he is more comfortable there and can sleep on a proper bed. He even has a
fan. He has built a good relationship with the officer-in-charge and hopes
that this might positively affect his future.
Helen purchased and delivered Jody some Tim Tams [chocolate biscuits],
whole-wheat bread, bacon, cheese, cookies, chocolate and fruit. He
requested for next time..some white rice (the rice they get is brown, very
rough and often with insects), some muesli cereal and fruit. Helen said she
would bring Mac Donald's Big Mac and fries next time and Jody was thrilled
at that prospect. He said that he was able to heat food in a microwave.
Jody also said that if anyone asks what to send them, to please include
board games such as monopoly, scrabble etc. These are much sought after as
they relieve the boredom of not having access to any form of entertainment.
Be advised however that playing cards are banned due to gambling.
Helen reports that many foreigners in Bangkwang Prison have filled out the
FPSS Request Support Form and returned to her. We will endeavour to process
these as soon as possible so that those prisoners might gain access to
support.
We sincerely thank the Thai Prison Authorities for allowing our Request
Support Form to circulate throughout the prison. The prison authorities and
guards have been absolutely wonderful to us and to our visiting members.
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Jody Aggett Campaign - 26 Jan 2006
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FPSS advcoate Helen, visited with Jody Aggett who said that a number of
people are sending International postage coupons. He says that no one in
the prison [guards] knows what to do with them. They are just a card with
writing on and no directions of what to do. None of the other prisoners
know either so he said that it is best to stop people using them.
Jody says that he is grateful for the letters that people are sending him
and these keep his spirits up. He asks that if people can send the
occasional care package too and if passing through Bangkok, an occasional
visit. Jody said that he is still waiting for his phone card so he can
phone out. It was promised almost a year ago and now the British Embassy
report that it will be another 4 months before he is able to receive a
phone card. The wait goes on for his appeal. Our thoughts and prayers go
out to Jody and his family who are hoping the Thai Authorities will be
merciful.
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Jody Aggett Campaign - Update 05 November 2005
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A special thank you to Ms. Kate Duvall of the British Embassy in Bangkok
for all the tremendous support she and the British Embassy staff are
providing to the Aggett Family, Jody Aggett and Ramphia Lo.
'The British Embassy Staff have been fantastic particularly Kate and Jeff.
They really do go out of their way to help us - I find them so helpful and
always ready to go the extra mile for us. This morning Jeff even went to
visit Kristin for us as we left money with him for her lawyer.......so
there they have helped us out as well' says Lorna Aggett.
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Jody Aggett Campaign - Update 5 October 2005
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FPSS volunteer member - 'Helen' has made yet another visit to Bang Kwang
Prison in support of UK citizen Jody Aggett.
Helen says that Jody smiled the whole time throughout her visit. He seemed
in good spirits despite the fact that he has been torn from those he loves
and plunged into the nightmare that is ever present behind the walls of the
notorious Bangkok Hilton [Bangkwang Prison].
His sense of humour will definitely help him through this ordeal of doing
time when he was simply a victim of circumstance. Helen took Jody some
books, tinned food and chocolate and left pringles chips, chocolate cookies
and muffins that her daughter made. She also left him some fresh fruit that
she'd bought at the shop.
"He really wants fresh fruit, chocolate, protein supplements (for his
weightlifting) ..board games and FHM magazines. I was surprised these
magazines get in because they usually have a pretty girl in a bikini on the
cover! Jody says no problem..the guards have a look first then pass it on!
[smile]. He is looking forward to getting a phone card. The Embassy is
organising this and officially signing off on the telephone numbers and
will add my number to that list. So if Jody needs anything ... then I can
post or drop it in" says Helen.
Helen said that Jody has received all the letters from his family and got
the FPSS website pages too.
"He appreciates any help the FPSS web pages generate. He has got several
letters, visits and parcels already from the publicity ...so well done to
you and Kay!!! It works!" Helen reports.
In general the conditions in the prison are much better than in the Ladies
prison at Lard Yao. It is definitely not a holiday camp but in Bang Kwang,
Jody lives in a separate "house" with 6 other foreigners. They have
electricity and cooking facilities, including a toaster, an electric frying
pan, and a sandwich maker! They don't have to work and Jody says he fills
his days working out in their makeshift gym. His Thai language is not too
bad and that helps with the guards. In general, the guards are pretty fair,
definitely more so to the foreigners that have Embassies looking after them.
Jody is lucky to have been give permission to have a small radio and says
this really helps him to keep going. He listens at night and when writing
letters. They have TV and now UBC (cable) with movies, sports and CNN! It
is the guard's discretion what is shown. Jody says they seem to watch a lot
of Thai football [smile]. Evidently, Jody saw the rugby test matches too.
..and won a bet when SA lost recently against the Kiwis!
Helen is going to try to send Jody some DVD's. She's not sure if they'll be
delivered to him but its worth a try. Jody is currently seeking permission
to call his parents which he feels confident that the prison authorities
will allow this. He says he thinks about his parents all the time and his
young son, Ryan. Helen suggested to Jody's Mother Lorna that she might try
to get some digital images of Ryan and the family on a DVD to send to Jody.
She also said that Jody has made contact with Kristin [see Ramphia Lo
Campaign] and has also got letters from some of her friends..Vanessa
etc..detained in Lard Yao Prison. He knows that the others have really
helped Kristin to settle in and is grateful that she is being looked after.
'It is just so heartbreaking that this young couple have been torn apart by
such tragedy' says FPSS advocate Kay Danes. "But Helen is an absolute saint
in my eyes. I very much admire the selfless support she gives not only to
Jody, Kristin and the women at Lard Yao, but to the family as well. I know
Tony and Lorna are grateful for her support. Helen is simply remarkable!'
Jody is staying optimistic despite the fact that the person who put him in
problem recanted their claim about his involvement. But that same person
has also changed their plea from guilty to not guilty and back again
several times already. Jody hopes that the court will see that he is
innocent and allow him to return home to his parents - Tony and Lorna, and
to his son Ryan. He also hopes that one-day, he and his beloved Kristin
will get their chance to live the dream they once planned of a long life
together, before their dreams turned into a nightmare.
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In-Country Support
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If you are visiting Bangkok and would like to leave a care package, letter
or perhaps a few dollars for Jody, then please contact the following;
Kate Dufal
Consul Officer
British Embassy
1031 Wireless Road,
Lumpini, Pathumwan
Bangkok 10330 Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2 305 8333 ext: 2334, 2318
Fax: +66 (0) 2 255 6051
Email: Consular.Bangkok@fco.gov.uk
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Letters and Care Packages
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A simple letter of hope can make the difference in the lives of those
struggling to endure. We hope that you might take a few moments to write a
letter to Jody Aggett as he continues to endure life in a Thai Prison.
Jody Aggett
Building #12
Bangkwang Central Prison.
117 Nonthaburi Road,
Nonthaburi Bangkok 11000, Thailand.
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Financial Support
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The British Government is happy to process money sent to British nationals in prison overseas. However, their overseas missions do not have the resources to deal with the increasing number of requests of this nature. If you wish to send money to a British National who is in detention overseas, you should contact the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London and ask to speak to the Consular Desk Officer responsible for the country in which the British National is held. The Desk Officer will then be able to advise you on how to send funds, or how you might offer other support. The telephone number for the FCO is 020 7008 1500. Alternatively you can write to:
Desk Officer for [insert name of country]
Consular Directorate
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Old Admiralty Building
Spring Gardens
London
SW1A 2PA
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News & Information
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We will fight to free him |
Lorna and Tony Aggett with Ryan |
FOUR-YEAR-OLD Ryan Aggett, who was born in a Thai jail, is growing up in Wootton Bassett while his parents maintain their innocence of drugs charges.
Four years ago Jody Aggett, 28, and his Thai girlfriend Ramphia Lo, known as Kristin, were arrested for manufacturing ecstasy.
In 2003 they were sentenced to death, which was later commuted to life imprisonment.
But there are many doubts surrounding the convictions.
The couple had been allowed to stay rent-free in a building containing a travel agency if they opened and closed the business each day.
But the agency's owner had been manufacturing ecstasy, according to Jody's parents, Tony and Lorna Aggett. Lorna, 52, originally from South Africa, said: "We've had four years of complete isolation and loneliness. Jody has been in prison for four years and we are waiting for a supreme court appeal which we are hoping will be in September.
"We don't hold out much hope but we have to try every avenue.
"It's been very hard for us to not become angry and bitter.
"Jody is completely innocent. There is no evidence against him."
Click Here for Complete Story
Family's hope for Thai jail man
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FREEDOM IS A RIGHT OF ALL HUMAN BEINGS IN A WORLD WHERE LIFE IS VALUED AND PEACE MAY FINALLY BE A POSSIBILITY
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Just in case you forgot - read the Universal declaration of Human Rights
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TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND SIAM RESPECTING THE EXTRADITION OF
FUGITIVE CRIMINALS.
