Ashley Oosthuizen celebrated her second birthday in a Thailand prison for a crime she did not commit, or had any knowledge off. Signing for a package belonging to her, then, boyfriend, Tristan Nettles, had Ashley arrested and subsequently sentenced with possession of drugs. Her initial death sentence was reduced to a life sentence. After appealing against her sentence, it was reduced to a 25-year prison sentence. Ashley’s legal team has once again appealed. Ashley is still serving her sentence.
The questions on many South Africans lips are simple – did she have any knowledge of Tristan’s activities or what was in the package she signed for? Ashley answers this in a definite no. She knew Tristan as a dedicated teacher and student, a healthy person who hardly missed a workout.
She is only allowed a limited number of lines and in a cramped note Ashley answered some of Happening News’s questions.
NO CURIOSITY
“We did not live together; I cannot answer for all of his behavior. He was never a big party goer and was normally the first one to leave.” -Ashley-
Ashley goes on to say that she had: “… no curiosity or interest to open someone else’s package.”
PRACTICING GRATTITUDE
Staying positive in circumstances far less than perfect for a young woman on the verge of her life cannot be an easy one – how does she cope? Ashley says she can only do this by practicing gratitude and refers to a quote from Count of Monte Cristo.
“… all human wisdom is contained in these two words, ‘Wait and Hope’”
Ashley goes on to say that young people should not be afraid to work and live abroad, especially in a country like Thailand where there is a zero tolerance to crime. She says going abroad is a life-changing experience.
“Be vigilant, have your parents’ approval and make sure you have all your legal documents in place.” -Ashley-
Ashely also reminds young people to take advice from someone who has been overseas and to make sure they familiarize themselves with the funds they need to have available.
LIVING CLOSE TO ASHLEY
Ashley’s mother, Lynn Blignaut, is currently residing in Thailand in Nakhon Si Thammarat, close to the Nakhon Si Thammarat Central Prison where Ashley is being held. She is allowed to see Ashley twice per week and they are allowed to speak Afrikaans to each other through a glass window. They are still required to wear masks, but the compulsory COVID testing protocol has been removed.
“I’m thankful that I was able to get a place closer to Ashley than the first time I was here.” -Lynn-
Lynn says her days are mostly filled with fighting Ashley’s case and making things as comfortable as possible for her daughter. She is also working at learning the language as 95% of the people in her close vicinity is not fluent in English at all.
The only way this mother can stay positive is by relying and focusing on her faith and says without God she would not have been able to keep going.
“I have to keep my focus on God and my faith. The moment I’m not focused things gets really difficult.” -Lynn-
Ashley’s legal team is still busy and hard at work with preparing documents for her appeal case and a date will be made public as soon as it has been set by the Thailand Justice System. Donations can, and should only, be made to:
Hearts4Ashley NPC
FNB
Garden Route Mall
Business Account
# 629 3970 9020
Branch Code: 250069
Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ
PayPal Account: Hearts4Ashle
Annette Havenga – Happening News SA ©