News Forum - Renewed calls for justice for Koh Samui expat incarcerated on drug charges

[Thaiger]

Calls for justice have been renewed for an expat who was arrested on Koh Samui and now sits in Thai jail for drug charges. The young South African woman, Ashley Oosthuizen, was arrested after she reportedly accepted a package from a delivery person that contained MDMA. In a screenshot leaked online, the Koh Samui Provincial Court sentenced her to the death penalty, which was then reduced to life in prison. The Thaiger has reached out to Thailand’s Court of Justice press office to confirm the sentencing, but there has been no response. A website calling for justice for Ashley went […]

The story Renewed calls for justice for Koh Samui expat incarcerated on drug charges as seen on Thaiger News.

Read the full story

[Sarisin]

What are the grounds for a lighter sentence, being a woman or an African?

[Noble_Design]

9 minutes ago, Sarisin said:

What are the grounds for a lighter sentence, being a woman or an African?

None of the above, according to this older Thaiger article:

https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/crime/expat-in-koh-samui-prison-on-drug-charges-nearly-3000-raised-to-get-her-out

Quote

A 21 year old South African woman is locked in Thai prison after she allegedly signed for a package containing 250 grams of MDMA, an ingredient in ecstasy, according to a GoFundMe account.

Quote

While Ashley was at work, a package was delivered and addressed to her former boss. She signed for the package, but didn’t open it and set it aside. Later, the police raided the shop and searched the package, finding 250 grams of MDMA, according to the GoFundMe page.

So if the news is true, basically she just signed for a package of drugs (unknowingly) that is addressed to her former boss. And that's what's landed her to life in prison. Kinda sad considering she's only just 21 years old and if she's really innocent but still incarcerated for life that's pretty harsh for someone who is just going to start their young life.

[Jason]

A trial is supposed to determine truth from falsehood. There have been many cases of drug plants in the past . Time will tell....

[Chatogaster]

1 hour ago, Sarisin said:

What are the grounds for a lighter sentence, being a woman or an African?

 

If you're really looking for an answer that is limited to the options you provided, your question is just a meaningless bunch of words that has at most the same value as the result of randomly hitting the keyboard.

The most common ground for a lighter sentence by far is pleading guilty. Royal pardons play a big part as well. In niche cases, being female can be relevant for commuting a death penalty, but only indirectly since the actual ground is about being pregnant at the time of the verdict. 

 

Edited February 15, 2022 by Chatogaster
grammar

[Stonker]

2 hours ago, Noble_Design said:

None of the above, according to this older Thaiger article:

https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/crime/expat-in-koh-samui-prison-on-drug-charges-nearly-3000-raised-to-get-her-out

So if the news is true, basically she just signed for a package of drugs (unknowingly) that is addressed to her former boss. And that's what's landed her to life in prison. Kinda sad considering she's only just 21 years old and if she's really innocent but still incarcerated for life that's pretty harsh for someone who is just going to start their young life.

Well, that version of 'the news' isn't "true".

She didn't "just signed for a package of drugs (unknowingly) that is addressed to her former boss. And that's what's landed her to life in prison."

In addition to the package found in her restaurant ('Hot in the Biscuit' - hers and her b/f's, not her former boss's) she also had four similar packages in her room, which she was also charged with.

Whether true or not, her American b/f is reportedly well known on the island for his pharmaceutical supplies.

What's reported here is anything but the full story.

 

[Bangkok]

The truth here is she never paid the police. To sell drugs in Thailand you need to pay the police because its their turf where they control who deals and who doesn't. They're no different to the mafia.

[Saunk]

5 hours ago, Sarisin said:

What are the grounds for a lighter sentence, being a woman or an African?

Exactly, if this was a guy, no one would even care.

[Guevara]

6 hours ago, Sarisin said:

What are the grounds for a lighter sentence, being a woman or an African?

Or a combination of the two?

[Lowseasonlover]

They all say that, It wasnt mine I didnt know what was in the parcel

[Dick]

Sure, "they all say that," but the fact is that it is often true. I have known people who it has happened to, and know for a fact that they are/were innocent. Why do I know? Because the police eventually had accomplices squeal to the police on the entities who were doing this to people, leading to arrests. Sadly, throughout Asia, the most common scenario is ex-pat drug dealers using and ruining the lives of other ex-pats who are innocent, normal citizens. 

It is so easy to ruin someone else's life merely by having a package sent to their name and address, that it is scary.