Family of South African jailed in Thailand remain hopeful

[webfact]

Lynn Blignaut and her daughter, Ashley Oosthuizen.

 

By Siphokazi Vuso

 

CAPE TOWN - The mother of Ashley Oosthuizen, who is facing life imprisonment in Thailand for alleged international drug trafficking, says the family is overwhelmed by the support they have been receiving from the public.

 

Since news of Ashley’s imprisonment broke, her mother, Lynn Blignaut, said messages of support and encouragement had been flowing in.

 

“Everybody has been amazing with their support and their messages of encouragement. I stand in awe to see all the positive reactions, it shows that so many people actually really do care,” she said.

 

After matriculating in 2017, Blignaut’s 22-year-old daughter had moved to Thailand in March 2018 to do a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) course, so she could teach kindergarten on the island of Koh Samui.

 

When Oosthuizen was laid off work during the pandemic, Tris Nepps, believed to be her boyfriend and also alleged to be smuggling drugs on the island, had apparently offered her employment at his restaurant.

 

Full story: https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/news/family-of-south-african-jailed-in-thailand-remain-hopeful-29816fc1-4297-45fe-814f-222abe7aa0ff

 

-- © Copyright IOL 2022-02-26

 

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[webfact]

FAMILY OF WC WOMAN JAILED IN THAILAND FOR DRUGS BELIEVE HER IMPRISONMENT UNJUST

Ashley Oosthuizen was arrested by Thai police in 2020 and was sentenced to death on drug-related charges. The sentence has since been changed to life behind bars.

by Shamiela Fisher

 

Ashley Oosthuizen has been sentenced to life imprisonment on drug-related charges. Picture: Facebook

 

CAPE TOWN - The family of a George woman who is locked up in Thailand for selling drugs believes that their daughter was unjustly put behind bars as she was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

Ashley Oosthuizen went to Thailand in March 2018 to start a job as a teacher but she was let go from the post and started working at a restaurant owned by her boyfriend.

 

But Oosthuizen's island life changed in 2020 when she was arrested by Thai police and was sentenced to death on drug-related charges. The sentence has since been changed to life behind bars.

 

According to her family, the 22-year-old had signed for a package on behalf of her boyfriend. She was arrested and has been in jail ever since.

 

-- © Copyright EYEWITNESS NEWS 2022-02-26

 

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[Soikhaonoiken]

If you do the crime, expect to do the time.... 

[PJ71]

12 minutes ago, Soikhaonoiken said:

If you do the crime, expect to do the time.... 

original

[sqwakvfr]

There was a movie in 1999 called Brokedown Palace where two American females are arrested for drug smuggling in Thailand.  The plot of the movie is similar to what happened to this young lady.  A negotiated settlement can be achieved but it will be expensive.  

Edited February 25, 2022 by sqwakvfr

[TheFishman1]

She just signed for a package totally not justified I often sign for packages from my neighbor when it comes and they’re not home I think in the future I’ll never do that again TiT

[Pique Dard]

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

According to her family, the 22-year-old had signed for a package on behalf of her boyfriend

allow me to doubt a bit! why to sign a package you haven't ordered? the address of the package was in whose name? two questions, two reasons to be suspicious

[chang1]

10 minutes ago, TheFishman1 said:

She just signed for a package totally not justified I often sign for packages from my neighbor when it comes and they’re not home I think in the future I’ll never do that again TiT

There must be a bit more to this than just a signature. 

She must have known what her boyfriend was upto and what work was she doing? 

Seems odd that the appeal court will not allow any new evidence to be considered. So even if there is video evidence of her boyfriend forging her signature when accepting the package, that proves her innocence beyond doubt, only the original evidence will be looked at.

[chang1]

21 minutes ago, Pique Dard said:

 

allow me to doubt a bit! why to sign a package you haven't ordered? the address of the package was in whose name? two questions, two reasons to be suspicious

Why wouldn't she sign for a package for her boyfriend? Would you not sign for your partners package?

I sign for my families parcels even if they are in the house but I am confident that they are unlikely to contain anything illegal. 

[hotchilli]

Should choose your partner a bit more carefully... especially in Thailand when he's dealing in drugs.

[ezzra]

It is indeed a pickle of a situation where too many questions still hangs in the air and without proper representations or appeal she will rot in jail, still death sentence commuted to life is way too harsh for such an offence in my opinion...

[Dan747]

Her Boy Friend is dealing in Drugs and she did not know??

[Pique Dard]

6 minutes ago, chang1 said:

Why wouldn't she sign for a package for her boyfriend? Would you not sign for your partners package?

I sign for my families parcels even if they are in the house but I am confident that they are unlikely to contain anything illegal. 

this is what i think, the southafrican  girl must have suspected more or less that something was fishy with her boyfriend.  i mean, come on, she could  have compared their lifestyle or ( her boyfriend's lifestyle) and the incomes from the restaurant...
if her boyfriend ordered the package on her name, this is another story.
if the package wasn't addressed directly to her, the police have no right to arrest her.
finally, i wrote  i'm suspicious but it doesn't mean i have reason to be

[Jaybott]

There's got to be more to this story than her just signing for a package.  Even Thailand would not sentence someone to death if the only evidence against them was signing for thier employers package.  At this point it sounds like a distraught mom trying to explain her daughters innocence to family, friends and the media.  If she's innocent I hope she's acquitted real soon; if guilty, well....

[Swampy999]

3rd world judicial system in a predominantly 3rd world country ????????

[Leadidge]

47 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Should choose your partner a bit more carefully... especially in Thailand when he's dealing in drugs.

What an idiotic comment!!!

[LikeItHot]

And once again the party life leads to death or imprisonment. I feel bad for the parents only. For the drug dealing skank.... let the violins play.  Sorry. No sympathy for the intergalactic ally stupid.

[LikeItHot]

2 minutes ago, Leadidge said:

What an idiotic comment!!!

So she should not choose her partner carefully?

[Leadidge]

2 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

She looks a good sort, too bad she's an idiot. 

What makes her an idiot? Signing for a delivery is a completely normal thing to do. 

[vandeventer]

3 hours ago, PJ71 said:

original

That's if she done the crime? When I was her age I travelled overland from India to Germany. A few time other travelers would befriend you and try and put something in your bag. The most dangerous country for drugs was Iran as they had the death sentence. So what I am saying is anyone could have put the drugs in her bag. I hope the truth come out.

[Leadidge]

2 minutes ago, LikeItHot said:

And once again the party life leads to death or imprisonment. I feel bad for the parents only. For the drug dealing skank.... let the violins play.  Sorry. No sympathy for the intergalactic ally stupid.

“Drug dealing shank” <deleted>????? She signed for a delivery package…..that’s it! 
Or do you know more?If so, you should share your knowledge!

[Leadidge]

4 minutes ago, LikeItHot said:

So she should not choose her partner carefully?

Do you say that to everyone who breaks up or gets a divorce?

[Bundooman]

1 hour ago, Pique Dard said:

 

allow me to doubt a bit! why to sign a package you haven't ordered? the address of the package was in whose name? two questions, two reasons to be suspicious

I don't agree with that view at all.

She may not have known her boyfriend was a dealer. Why would he tell her? She appears to have known him for only a short while.

We would all possibly do the same as her - sign for a package addressed to him - she may have been asked to do that, and why would she find anything suspicious about it?

He, on the other hand, would likely be the type to divert suspicion on himself by asking her to sign.

That is the other side to your argument - it's just an alternative way of looking at things, yes?

[Bundooman]

7 minutes ago, LikeItHot said:

So she should not choose her partner carefully?

Of course she should. 

 

"Do you have anything to do with drugs"?

"No, of course not - do I look like that kind of guy"?

"OK, I've been careful".

 

Stupid remark!

[guyzatool]

African fellas staying in Thailand mostly pimps/drug dealers.  Walk along Sukhumvit Rd, see how many offer drugs/girls/both.  Often police just 10-20m away.

[IamNoone88]

She chose the wrong boyfriend and then the wrong path. That lead to the third poor choice involving drugs.

[bbko]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

said messages of support and encouragement had been flowing in.

 

“Everybody has been amazing with their support and their messages of encouragement. I stand in awe to see all the positive reactions, it shows that so many people actually really do care,”

Would she have gotten the same support if she wasn't young & attractive?  Imagine some dusty old fart doing the exact same thing as she allegedly did.

[wombat]

Of course she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

She was caught.

The only disgrace is being caught.

Do I feel sorry for her?

Yes I do.

[wombat]

37 minutes ago, Leadidge said:

What makes her an idiot? Signing for a delivery is a completely normal thing to do. 

I disagree....I'm on a working holiday in a foreign country and somehow I'm Johnny on the spot to sign for a package I know nothing about.?

Not a chance.

[cracker1]

1 hour ago, chang1 said:

There must be a bit more to this than just a signature. 

She must have known what her boyfriend was upto and what work was she doing? 

Seems odd that the appeal court will not allow any new evidence to be considered. So even if there is video evidence of her boyfriend forging her signature when accepting the package, that proves her innocence beyond doubt, only the original evidence will be looked at.

I have been involved in appeal cases here in Thailand and the story is correct. Any appeal can only be considered based on the evidence provided at the original hearing. The appeal is really about the original interpretation of the evidence. If new evidence were going to be provided, then it would need a new trial.