Hall considers not returning to Thailand for ongoing court cases

Former Spalding man Andy Hall has appealed his conviction for criminal defamation and computer crimes in Thailand.

The human rights defender’s legal team lodged the paperwork last week, five months after the outcome of his case in Bangkok.
The conviction related to publication of a report entitled Cheap Has A High Price in 2013 by Finnwatch, a Finnish civil society organisation. It made allegations of serious human rights violations at a Natural Fruit Co processing plant in Thailand.

Hall was handed a three-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, and fined 150,000 baht (£3,400).
The court’s decision prompted concern from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Labour Organisation, and European trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström.

Finnwatch executive director Sonja Vartiala said: “The widespread concern expressed regarding his conviction and recognition of the importance of his work by many international actors represents a glimmer of hope to others who seek to improve working and living conditions of migrant workers in Thailand, but who do so in deteriorating conditions amidst fears of possible negative repercussions.”

Hall (36) is now back in Spalding with parents Des and Pat, having spent three months in a Zen Buddhist temple in the south of France.
He had lived in Thailand for 11 years, but left last November after again being prosecuted on similar charges in a case initiated by poultry company Thammakaset.
The conviction appealed was one of four criminal and civil cases brought by Natural Fruit against Hall. The company appealed his suspended sentence in December 2016.

Hall told The Voice: “They are requesting an immediate custodial sentence and not satisfied with the verdict also. 
“I am now exploring any means with Thai government and officials/others to seek to find a way to put an end to this ongoing conflict. It’s completely irrational and counter-productive for all sides.
 
“In the meantime, with new criminal prosecutions against me and these ongoing ones, I need to find out from the UK Government when I meet them late February in London what the state of play is if I choose not to return to Thailand to this ongoing judicial harassment and how the UK Government would respond to an extradition request from Thailand or related issues.”