George mother's ongoing battle for daughter's release from Thai prison continues
Cape Town - The mother of Ashley Oosthuizen, who is imprisoned for life in Thailand for drug trafficking, has not given up the fight to get her child back home as she seeks legal advice in South Africa.
Lynnette Blignaut from George, relocated to Thailand more than two years ago, in order to be closer to her 25-year-old daughter who was arrested for drug possession in that country in 2020.
She shared with Cape Argus this week, how she is able to visit Oosthuizen at the prison once a week for at least 20 minutes at a time, and is allowed to make a phone call.
Blignaut completed a legal petition together with an appeal to the Supreme Court in Thailand, which was submitted in 2022 and 2023 and is now awaiting the outcome, which can be an indefinite period of up to two years.
Blignaut bravely sold her business in South Africa linked to care giving placement and medical disability aid supplies, and moved to Thailand.
“I have been living in Thailand for 2.5 years already,” she said.
“I am learning the language and settling in.
“I sold my stuff and business back in 2023.
“When I first arrived here, it took me about six hours just to find a place that could print a document.
“It has been an adjustment, especially where the language is concerned.
“The petition, together with the appeal to the Supreme Court, was submitted around November 2022 and on October 11, 2023 the petition was accepted.
“Now we just wait.
“There is nothing else we can do and we also do not get a specific date.
“The court will decide and call Ashley unexpectedly on a given day.
“This process can take up to two years.
“The docs only reached the Supreme Court on January 12, 2024, thus from this date forward up to two years.
“The longer it takes, the better is what her Thai lawyer told me.”
Oosthuizen was arrested for international drug trafficking after she accepted a package containing MDMA while working at a restaurant.
She relocated to Thailand in 2018 to work as a preschool teacher.
The Cape Argus approached the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s (DIRCO) spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri on the latest developments on the matter, and were told he would only be returning back to office as of January 13.
At the time of Oosthuizen’s arrest, DIRCO said the SA Embassy as well as the Consular had provided assistance to the family.
Blignaut said she has since been appealing for assistance legally in South Africa after she was slapped with a R255 000 bill related to Oosthuizen’s matter, which she cannot discuss publicly.
“I am seeking legal advice from South African professionals in this field who can tell me what to do,” she said.
“I have a Thai lawyer who has handled Ashley’s case from this side.
“I am unable to say much right now as I am reviewing all communication and documentation received.”
Blignaut said due to the sensitive nature of the case, she could not disclose more.
She added that despite the mammoth plight, the fact that her daughter was well and thriving despite her detention, gave her purpose and meaning to continue.
“I am able to visit her once per week for 15-20 minutes with bars and Perspex barriers between us via a phone,” she said.
“Ashley gets one video call per month for 10-15 minutes, with other members of the family.
“Ashley is doing well and she is healthy by the grace of God.
“The longer it takes, the better is what her Thai lawyer told me.
“But we continue to trust in God alone and know that on His Divine timing, she’ll come home.
“It’s not an easy road, but it is possible because we keep our focus on Jesus and trust Him to be true to His Word.
“He will never leave nor forsake us and His grace for us is enough. Up to now, he has been faithful at the end of each day.”
In a letter shared by Oosthuizen at the end of 2024, she said she hoped the new year would be the year she would be freed and to realise her dreams.
“Heaven can only shed its tears for so long until it is cried out. So, however long it may rain, there will come a day where the skies will clear up and the sun will come out again,” she wrote.
“God willing, 2025 will be my year of freedom. It will be a year of celebrations - it will have its troubles and trials and tribulations- but oh! Bring it on! I am ready for whatever life throws at me.
“There is a seriousness and an eagerness that has been building up inside of me, which makes such a potent mixture; and then these eyes have been trained to find happiness even in the darkest places - how much will I not find outside in the big, blue, beautiful world!”