MONTHLY NEWS LETTER FROM BANG KWANG PRISON/RYE HILL PRISON
By Steve Willcox
Update on Steven Michael Willcox application to the
High Court for Judicial Review to be heard
You may have heard via other sources that judgment was given in Steve's case. Unfortunately, it was not in his favor.
Steve’s solicitor is now in the process of considering submitting an appeal to the House of Lords so watch this space.
Whilst we may have lost the first battle - hopefully there's still the second and possibly a third to go!!
This is a link to the judgment - but be warned it is 33 pages!
By signing the Petition below you are showing your support on two fronts:
1) This Petition will be presented to the Government of Thailand Showing support for Steve Willcox Royal Pardon which was submitted on January 31st 2006.
2) This Petition will also at sometime be presented to the UK Government (current Prime Minister Gordon Brown) in the hope they will change their decision and now support my Royal Pardon Application to the Government of Thailand.
Kings Pardon (Petition for executive Clemency) Royal Pardon
Executive clemency may be a better expression. A Pardon is usually interpreted as forgiveness, amounting to removal of suggestion of Liability for fault. Thus a pardon can easily be interpreted as a signal of innocence. Executive clemency is a signal of compassion and kindness with the issue of guilt left-outstanding.
A Royal Pardon is a possibility, but is only most likely to succeed with the support of the UK Government.
If a Pardon is granted, it could mean either a reduction in sentence, which may still leave the prisoner with some time to serve before final release.
Or:
A full Pardon is granted, where the prisoner is released immediately, or as quick as the paperwork is completed.
Without the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (F.C.O.) London, UK Government or other prominent Figures, people of major influence and Clout in either Thailand or England without their support you can expect to be in for a very lengthy wait and no guarantee of a successful outcome at the end of it all.
My own Pardon to date is un-supported by any of the above with the exception of my Local MP Andrew Robathan.
If you can help with support with somebody of influence e.g. your own MP etc. please contact me here at Rye Hill Prison (address on my home page) or contact this website itself.
My Pardon was submitted on January 31st 2006: where or at what stage in the process my Pardon is at, we dont know and have been unable to find out.
My own Pardon is based on compelling compassionate circumstances concerning my immediate family, and the severity of my sentence for a relatively small amount of drugs (25 grams).
Also by a technically of Thai Law I was forced into a conviction of distribution of drugs rather than my actual crime of possession of drugs.
As of April 21st 2009 I have already served 6 years in prison.
I dont claim to be innocent; I am guilty of a crime of possession of 25 grams of drugs found in my own house for my own consumption.
Surely the term of incarceration to date, 4 years 6 months of which was spent incarcerated in a Thai Prison. Surely to date thats punishment enough?, I will let you be the Judge of that.
All I ask is Just Punishment for my Crime.
Note: Click onto Remission, Amnesty, Kings Pardon Explained on the Home Page navigation of my website for more details. Ask friends and Family also to sign this petition.
With thanks Steve Willcox
Article published in the Guardian re Steve’s case:
Drug offence case is landmark for Britons jailed abroad
SKETCHES THAT HAVE BEEN “SMUGGLED” OUT OF BANGKWANG
WHAT IT’S
Steven was arrested and imprisoned in April 2003 in
As of April 21st 2008 Steven has already served 5 years of his 33 year and 6 month sentence, given to him in Bangkok Thailand after he pleaded guilty for having in possession for distribution 24 grams of heroin, 1 gram of ecstasy (14 tablets) and having 0.2 grams of methamphetamine (11 tablets) and 20 grams of marijuana in possession.
All drugs were found in Steven’s house for personal use, yet:-
Section 15 of the Thai Narcotics Act states that possession of any (amphetamine) or derivatives of amphetamine (ecstasy) of 0.3 milligrams upwards, or dosage unit containing the said narcotics exceeding 15 units (tablets), or having a net weight of 1.5 gram upwards, is deemed to be for distribution.
Similarly, possession of narcotics also within category 1 (heroin) of 3 grams upwards is also deemed to be for distribution.
Steven had no choice and had to admit possession for distribution in relation to his possession of the heroin and ecstasy, despite the reality of all the drugs found in Steven’s house being for personal use. Obviously personal use (possession) is a lot less serious charge than that of possession for distribution. To dispute the charges of distribution would have resulted in Steven being found guilty anyway, and being sentenced more severely.
Technically under Thai law Steven was guilty of the possession for distribution charges of the heroin and ecstasy.
The weights and measures of section 15 of Thai law for category 1 drug leave no leeway for reasonable argument, whether the drugs were for personal use or for distribution.
Steven spent 4 years and 6 months in two of
Bambut Pisset Narcotics remand centre
Bangkwang Prison (Bangkok Hilton) (3 years)
June 2006 Steven received a 15 day reduction in his sentence from his Majesty The King of Thailand, to mark the 60th year as a ruling monarch. Steven’s sentence then stood at 33 years 5 months 15 days. December 2007 Steven received a 4 year 2 months 15 day reduction in his sentence from his Majesty the King of Thailand, to mark his Majesty’s 80th birthday.
Steven’s sentence now stands at 29 years 3 months.
Steven transferred from the Bangkok Hilton Prison on
December 10th 2007 Steven again transferred from Wandsworth Prison to Rye Hill, in
A Kings Pardon/Royal Pardon/ Petition for executive clemency can only be given by his Majesty the King of Thailand.
The above is given out of compassion and kindness with the issue of guilt left outstanding. This is not a petition to say Steven shouldn’t be punished. What he did was illegal, but surely Steven and his family have already been punished enough.
Please sign this petition in support of Steven’s Kings Pardon.
Thank you, friends and family of Steven
WITH HOPE
This web site aims to achieve a number of goals:-
May it serve as a “DETERRENT and A WARNING” that to be caught with even a small amount of drugs in
This web site highlights some of the serious violations of human rights and horrifying conditions of Thai Prison, in written and true accounts and true life drawings, sketches and even photos of inside the Bangkok Hilton Prison.
The site also clearly shows the present Bilateral Prisoner Transfer Treaty between
I hope by documenting my harrowing personal experience and that of others here on this web site, that it will save many people and their families the same horrifying experience we endure.
I hope also that prison conditions will improve for the better and the shackling of prisoners will cease.
I hope now finally having been brought to the attention of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Home Office of London, will they now amend the present Bilateral Prisoner Transfer Treaty between
I hope this web site helps to achieve some good after all the pain and suffering my actions have caused my family and friends.
With Hope
By Steve Willcox
A typical cell in Bangkwang though for the purposes of this photograph it has been given a fresh coat of paint.
These are death row inmates and have been instructed to conceal their shackles under their folded legs. Also some inmates have been removed from the centre of the cell to give the impression of more space. Usually there would be two or more rows of inmates side by side lengthwise in this gap. The clothes on the end of the bed mats are to prevent rusty shackles from soiling the men’s bed covers. Personal items and food are carried in bags seen here hanging above each mans head on the wall. The toilet hole is on the right at the far end of the cell in the corner with painted blue wall. A quick count of the bed mats reveals at least 22 men in this cell at the time of the photograph. Another 8 – 10 men will sleep down the centre aisle once the camera is gone
bravenet.com
