The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Human rights campaigner Andy Hall has had his passport confiscated as he awaits trial in Thailand.
Mr Hall, who is from Spalding and still has family in the town, also faces a travel ban restricting his movements after a ruling by Bangkok South Criminal Court.
The ruling was made ahead of a hearing on Monday where Mr Hall was indicted on criminal defamation and computer crimes charges brought against him by Thai pineapple exporter Natural Fruit Company Ltd.
This is the most serious of four separate cases brought against him by Natural Fruit, including two for damages, and if found guilty he could face a maximum of seven years in prison in Thailand.
He now faces a 12-day trial starting on May 19. If found guilty he could be sentenced to seven years in prison in Thailand.
All the charges relate to the 2013 Cheap Has a High Price report Mr Hall co-authored on behalf of Finnwatch, which alleged human rights abuses in the Thai fruit juice industry – focusing on working conditions at a Natural Fruit factory in southern Thailand.
Many of the workers in the factory were migrants from poorer neighbouring countries including Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.
Thailand has one of the worst records in the world for human trafficking, according to the United State’s annual ranking.
The report accused the company of forced and child labour, unlawfully low wages and long hours – allegations the company has denied.
Andy says he stands by his research and has accused the company of trying to detract from the report’s damning findings through legal action.
Following the confiscation of his passport, Mr Hall said he would be petitioning the British Embassy to Thailand for assistance in requesting diplomatic officials to seek the return of his passport from the court.
