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Banged up Abroad a horrific reality for UK expat grandfather
| Published: | 5 May at 6 PM |
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A British grandfather living in Thailand is claiming he was beaten and abused whilst in jail following a motorcycle collision.
Manchester-born Dave Campbell, 68, was driving home one night when his motorcycle collided with another bike. The Thai driver had failed to put his lights on and was carrying a French couple and a Thai man as passengers. None were wearing helmets.
Mr Campbell sustained broken ribs and severe cuts and was unconscious when the ambulance arrived at the hospital. Since the accident, he’s suffered acute memory loss.After his discharge, he voluntarily went to a police station to report the accident, but was told no report had been made at the time.
To his dismay, some six weeks later, police arrived at his home and arrested him for assault. Once at the police station, he was denied access to a lawyer and consular help, and his mobile phone was confiscated.
After an attempt to force Campbell to sign a confession in the Thai language, police took him to a cell. Friends arrived and attempted to bail him out for a requested 10,000 baht, (around £200), but the stated amount soon grew to £2,000. Subsequently, Campbell was shackled to three Thai prisoners and transported to Rayong, where he was imprisoned in a cell containing 30 offenders.
After three days he was moved to a different prison where, he claims, during his two weeks’ stay he was robbed and beaten by Thai prisoners and sexually assaulted by prison guards after being stripped naked. After two weeks, he was released from prison with no idea what was happening and why he had been incarcerated.
Eight months later, the case against him reached court, and was attended by the Frenchman who had been injured in the crash and his lawyer. The Frenchman claimed his partner had subsequently died from her injuries, and his French lawyer told Campbell he was to face a manslaughter charge. The case was then adjourned, and will come to court again on May 30. At the time of writing, the British Foreign Office is declining to comment on the case.
Campbell is left with thousands of pounds of debt after borrowing to pay his hospital and legal expenses, and still has no idea what really happened during and after the crash. He told the media he isn’t even sure what he’s been accused of, saying he’s being treated like a criminal but believes he’s done nothing wrong.
Manchester-born Dave Campbell, 68, was driving home one night when his motorcycle collided with another bike. The Thai driver had failed to put his lights on and was carrying a French couple and a Thai man as passengers. None were wearing helmets.
Mr Campbell sustained broken ribs and severe cuts and was unconscious when the ambulance arrived at the hospital. Since the accident, he’s suffered acute memory loss.After his discharge, he voluntarily went to a police station to report the accident, but was told no report had been made at the time.
To his dismay, some six weeks later, police arrived at his home and arrested him for assault. Once at the police station, he was denied access to a lawyer and consular help, and his mobile phone was confiscated.
After an attempt to force Campbell to sign a confession in the Thai language, police took him to a cell. Friends arrived and attempted to bail him out for a requested 10,000 baht, (around £200), but the stated amount soon grew to £2,000. Subsequently, Campbell was shackled to three Thai prisoners and transported to Rayong, where he was imprisoned in a cell containing 30 offenders.
After three days he was moved to a different prison where, he claims, during his two weeks’ stay he was robbed and beaten by Thai prisoners and sexually assaulted by prison guards after being stripped naked. After two weeks, he was released from prison with no idea what was happening and why he had been incarcerated.
Eight months later, the case against him reached court, and was attended by the Frenchman who had been injured in the crash and his lawyer. The Frenchman claimed his partner had subsequently died from her injuries, and his French lawyer told Campbell he was to face a manslaughter charge. The case was then adjourned, and will come to court again on May 30. At the time of writing, the British Foreign Office is declining to comment on the case.
Campbell is left with thousands of pounds of debt after borrowing to pay his hospital and legal expenses, and still has no idea what really happened during and after the crash. He told the media he isn’t even sure what he’s been accused of, saying he’s being treated like a criminal but believes he’s done nothing wrong.
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