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Inmates meet visitors at Klong Prem maximum security prison in Bangkok.
Ashley Oosthuizen, a young woman from George in the Western Cape, who was convicted on drug charges in Thailand in 2020, has received a royal pardon which will further reduce her sentence.
She was arrested in a police sting operation after signing for a package full of drugs meant for her boyfriend, who has since fled the country and is wanted by Interpol.
After initially receiving a death sentence, Oosthuizen’s sentence was commuted to life in prison.
From 33 years, her sentence was then reduced by 20 years. She now has around 13 more years to serve.
Her mother, Lynn Blignaut, has moved to Thailand to be closer to her daughter.
Blignaut said she’s happy with the new developments.
“It all came down to one year off for every seven years of your sentence. If you have got a sentence of 14 years, you will have two years cut off from your current sentence. With Ashley, she has got 13 years and four months. So, she only gets one year off. In the end, it is great, and we are thankful as always,” she says.
