3rd Aug 2008 Update from Joan Wong
Dear All
I know it has been ages since the last update. The submission of appeal was submitted on the 2nd August. We were lucky to have found a very experienced and highly respected senior lawyer who took over and wrote the appeal, of course the fee was not small but he is worth every cent. He is absolutely savvy of the way the appeal should be approached. His first paragraph states very firmly of intimidation, robbery, extortion and frame up. He tempers this very nicely with his last paragraph which humbly asks the court, even if they are not willing to be convinced to at least consider the facts that Steven has no prior record of any kind, comes from good family and is a respected member of his profession. (here he attached letters from the family… even ones from Steven’s nephews and nieces that he has suffered too much punishment already.) We can only hope. We know for a fact that framing goes on in Thailand and it is down to a fine art.
On parcels and letters… Bad news they are no longer allowed, the new director seems to be bent on being as nasty and uncooperative as he can… The Embassy is trying to meet with him to at least allow the foreigners to receive letters. Steven asked me to ask if you could write a simple letter just to test if it gets through. Steven would be very grateful for this because it will help the Embassy with their case. All this means I can no longer send food parcels with ten of everything for him to share with his “family”. Steven is holding on and is amazingly strong.
We are as ever very touched and grateful for all your support for Steven, no one less than he.
Special thanks Moise for your continued letters and for introducing us to Tim. Salomon for your letters, Wee Khim and Mazlan for your visits to Steven and thanks Wee Khim for helping get the shopping organised by your very reliable source. Ian for persevering with the magazines and the disappointment of having them returned… Definitely none allowed at present.
Fair Trials have been very supportive and we also have letters of concern from them but it is not the right time to introduce them. His sister has written to European MPs and so far all they have come up with is tea and sympathy.
Kesi remains our rock and sanity and we know we will never be able to thank him enough. His great sense of humour has carried us through many sad days in Bangkok and his names for the least favourite of the people we have met are hilarious… e.g the nasty lady at the prison Som kow he refers to as the bovine.
Once again thank you all for being so constant in your concern… It has been 3 years and yet you still continue to support us it means so much to us all.
Take care God Bless
joan