Businessman Sent Back To Thai Jail

[funfun]

Businessman sent back to Thai jail

A Bradford businessman who has been fighting to prove his innocence of drugs trafficking allegations in Thailand has been sent back to jail, where his family fear for his life.

Kevin Quill, 45, former owner of the Fighting Cock pub, was arrested and convicted in 2001 on drug charges, which he has strenuously denied.

He served six months in a Thai jail before being granted bail. In 2005 the country's Court of Appeal acquitted Mr Quill of the charges saying there was no evidence against him.

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However this week the case went to the Supreme Court who rejected the acquittal and sentenced him to six years' imprisonment.

Mr Quill, who is seriously ill with throat cancer, says he was set up, a claim supported by strong evidence, including an admission by a senior police officer.

His family now fear for his health and are campaigning to have him brought back to the UK to serve his sentence here, having exhausted the Thai legal system.

Lorainne Hawkesworth-Quill, Mr Quill's sister, who lives in Todmorden, told the Telegraph & Argus: "We are desperately worried about Kevin. He has spent years fighting to clear his name and for the last few years he has suffered from throat cancer and has had to have his voice box removed.

"The hole he has in his throat has to be cleaned four times a day and he requires specialised medical treatment. The conditions in the jails there are appalling. They are basically crowded into a room with a hole in the floor for a toilet and raw sewage everywhere. Visiting was bad enough as they were in a cage and you had to shout through a hole.

"We are very worried this will make Kevin's illness worse. Our mother is 78 and this is making her very ill.

"The verdict came as a total shock. Kevin's two sons Aaron and Sean had gone out there to support him as we all expected him to be freed. The whole proceedings were held in Thai and they hadn't got a clue what was going on until the judge said six years. They are distraught.

"This whole case is farcical. We have been working with the Foreign Office and Fair Trials Abroad and are hoping we can have Kevin brought back here to finish his sentence even though he is innocent."

Sabine Zanker, of Fair Trials Abroad, who has dealt with the case since 2002, said: "Everyone was astonished when the Supreme Court reversed the acquittal.

"Since 2005 Mr Quill has been on remand in Thailand and when granted temporary leave for medical treatment has always returned. He put his faith in the Thai justice system and he has been badly let down.

"Our efforts must now be concentrated on bringing Mr Quinn home as soon as possible.

"The application must be fast-tracked."

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "We know about the verdict and will continue to provide Mr Quinn with consular assistance.

"We are in touch with the family and there are certain representations we are considering making to the Thai authorities. We do have a prisoner transfer scheme and we are examining whether that applies in this case."

10:34pm Wednesday 9th April 2008

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news...o_thai_jail.php

[Prakanong]

I do not think the prisoner transfer scheme will apply as a certain amount of the sentence has to be served in Thailand first but lets hope for a case like this something can be done and he could be returned home to serve in the UK due to his throat cancer.

I would only advocate this due to the throat cancer though and any other case unless mitigating circumstances should have to do the mandatory time in the thai jail before returning to the UK system.

At least the UK agreement means they have to do whatever time the Thai authorities say and go by the Thai parole/early release scheme - the americans and aussies have it much easier and have their own rules applied meaning much less time inside.