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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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Family's hope for Thai jail man
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The family of a man jailed for life in Thailand hope recent court cases there will raise his chances of release.
Jody Aggett, 28, from Swindon, was jailed for life in 2003 after being convicted of involvement in an ecstasy- manufacturing ring.
His family claim he was forced to sign an untranslated Thai confession.
They hope the renewal of interest in the Thai justice system in the wake of the murder of holidaymaker Katherine Horton will lead to a review of cases.
Aggett's parents Lorna and Tony, who care for his four-year-old son Ryan at their Wiltshire home, said they were "hoping and praying" fresh scrutiny could help secure his release.
"There was a letter all in Thai - they said to him 'sign this or else'"
Lorna Aggett
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There was a letter all in Thai - they said to him 'sign this or else'
Lorna Aggett
Aggett and his Thai girlfriend Ramphia Lo - known as Kristin - were arrested in 2001. The couple had been living rent-free above a travel agency in Bangkok on the understanding they opened and closed the shop each day.
But when the agency's owner, a dual Canadian and Dutch citizen known as Adrian, and his Thai girlfriend were arrested for manufacturing ecstasy on the premises, Aggett and Kristin were also held by police.
Aggett was originally given a death penalty, but his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.
Mrs Aggett said: "In the beginning there was a letter all in Thai. They said to him 'sign this or else', I think Kristin was trying to translate but it was in the middle of police shouting 'sign it, sign it,'.
"When you think of the sentence, that's a harsh sentence for being in the wrong place at the wrong time it is hard not to be angry and bitter about it."
The Aggetts claim Adrian's girlfriend has since confessed that the tenants had not had any part in the drugs manufacture.
Their son has now lodged an appeal against his conviction with the Thai supreme court, claiming an unfair trial and insufficient evidence. The family's campaign is supported by UK-based Fair Trials Abroad.
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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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