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Graham
Cleghorn….victim of injustice in |
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Remember the case of
the Gisborne Salvation Army euphonium player who was jailed in Robert James Campbell
Stewart, in his mid-60s, is one of the more memorable New Zealanders who have
found themselves behind bars in foreign countries. He was sentenced to
seven years' jail in 2001. Stewart has been out
for at least a year, but the builder and father of five no longer lives in
Gisborne. And he doesn't want to reflect on his traumatic experience, either.
He has, says Salvation Army colleague Russell Garbett "had enough of the
publicity". Not surprising, when
you hear about the prison he was in - It's the sort of place
where prisoners are in charge and anything can be had - for a price.
Unprotected gay sex is standard and drugs freely available. Diseases such as
HIV and tuberculosis are common. New Zealander
Talotofisamoa Selu Lealiifano is one who will observe summer from an Australian
cell. Most New Zealanders in prison overseas are in Lealiifano is in Lealiifano, a 27-year-old
who moved from He is due to appear in
a Former Petone resident
Graham Cleghorn, 55, faced the New Year in a Cambodian jail, with allegations
of sex offences against young girls hanging over his head. Cleghorn has been
living for about a decade in Siam Reap, about 230km from the capital, Under Cambodian law,
says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, he could be held without
charge for up to six months. Although Aucklander Sun
Gang pleaded guilty at trial in Allegedly a member of
the United States-based pro-democracy China Federation Foundation,
44-year-old Sun, who has an ex-wife and two children in Auckland, planned to
fly a helium balloon over Beijing and scatter hundreds of leaflets around
Tiananmen Square. Representing himself,
Sun admitted also planning to kidnap a state energy company official for a
ransom to fund pro-democracy activities. Both activities carry long prison
sentences. Sun's Most New Zealanders
getting in trouble overseas are involved in far less serious stuff, but
skirmishes with the law keep consular staff busy. In the financial year
to last June, That could have
included advice on lawyers, help contacting family, court appearances, and
visits to police stations or immigration centres, says Ministry of Foreign
Affairs spokeswoman Emma Reilly. "The message we'd
be keen to get across," says ministry spokesman Brad Tattersfield,
"would be that people have to be aware of local customs and
practices." Scraps in public,
questioning the authorities or trying to evade police are the sorts of
behaviours, he says, that could be viewed far more seriously overseas than
here. So what can you do if
you wind up behind bars? If you get in trouble
overseas, don't expect that the The ministry cannot
select a lawyer, give legal advice, give you money, get you out of jail, or
get involved in the judicial process. It won't forward mail
or go shopping for you. The ministry suggests
that anyone detained or arrested ask for legal assistance or permission to
contact the nearest New Zealand Post. But it adds a warning:
"Stay calm and co-operate ... Do not sign any statement without seeking
legal advice." Overseas posts can give
arrested people advice on what to do, can help you with language barriers,
provide a list of English-speaking lawyers, inform your family and arrange
for them to send you money. Consular staff may be able to attend a final
court hearing. If you are found guilty
and can't avoid doing time, consular staff will seek approval for prison
visits by family and friends, visit people in jails where conditions are
known to be really bad, ensure any medical and dental problems are brought to
the attention of prison authorities, and take up "any justified and
serious complaint about ill treatment and discrimination". Otherwise, you're on
your own. NEW
ZEALANDERS IN JAIL OVERSEAS
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