ianstone
06-06-2010, 12:47 PM
Afghan jail Leeds army vet's 'low morale'
Went to help the animals, and ended up, being treated like a dog
Abandoned, the Animal lover
http://editorial.jpress.co.uk/web/Upload/LEED//TH1_46201023nle4-0506-06-0406-131356.jpg
Bill Shaw.
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A decorated British Army veteran locked up in an Afghan jail has had his first heart-wrenching visit from the devoted wife and daughter fighting for his freedom.
As reported in the YEP earlier this week, ex-Royal Military Police Officer Bill Shaw, 52, from Leeds, has been convicted of bribery by a tribunal and sentenced to two-years in prison.
* Click here to sign up to free news and sport email alerts from your YEP. (http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/custompages/CustomPage.aspx?pageID=73960)
His family have launched a desperate fight to prove his innocence and secure his freedom and were allowed to visit him in a Kabul jail.
* Click here to follow the YEP on Twitter. (http://www.twitter.com/leedsnews)
Mr Shaw, who was awarded an MBE for military service, was visited by his wife Liz and daughter Lisa Luckyn-Malone, below, who are campaigning for his release from a notorious Afghanistan jail where Taliban fighters are held.
They told the YEP they were shocked to see him chained, unshaven, showing weight loss and suffering low morale.
Through a glass barrier, they were able to show him the support from the thousands of people across Britain and around the world who are backing their campaign by signing up to an online petition to the Prime Minister, writing to their MPs or joining social networking sites.
Mrs Shaw said: "We are torn apart to see him in such a state.
"He's locked up in solitary confinement for most of the day and this is obviously affecting him mentally as well as physically.
"Lisa and I are trying to stay strong for him, but it's very difficult, very heart-wrenching.
"However, we have taken some comfort from the way everyone has been respectful to us, including Bill's prison guards.
"We have been welcomed by many Afghan people who also believe Bill is innocent and have told us what an honest and good man he is."
Mr Shaw was working for G4S, a British security group protecting diplomatic personnel, when he was arrested over a £13,000 payment for the release of two impounded armoured vehicles belonging to the company.
Officials reportedly disappeared with the money and he is now serving a two-year sentence.
Mr Shaw's legal counsel has lodged an appeal against the sentence, which was passed on April 26 this year, and he is now waiting for a court date, which may not take place until July.
Mrs Shaw said: "The family is completely shocked by the judgment which runs against the principles of natural justice.
"It is important to the family that people understand Bill is a man of the highest possible ethical and moral standards who has served his country with distinction, both when he was in the army and then when he supported reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Yet he faces two years in an Afghanistan prison for a crime he did not commit.
"Bill is a real family man, a father-of-three children and a grandfather-of-two.
"We are calling on the Afghan and British authorities to overturn this patently unfair judgment as quickly as possible."
YEP readers can support the campaign by signing the online petition at www.petitiononline.com/WS260410 (http://www.petitiononline.com/WS260410) or on facebook.com at the Free Bill Shaw page, as well as at: www.twitter.com/freebillshaw (http://www.twitter.com/freebillshaw)
Treated like a dog, he cares. Afghanistan does not. They would sooner release the Taliban.
If you are an animal lover please help this man. THANK YOU ALL!
Went to help the animals, and ended up, being treated like a dog
Abandoned, the Animal lover
http://editorial.jpress.co.uk/web/Upload/LEED//TH1_46201023nle4-0506-06-0406-131356.jpg
Bill Shaw.
http://editorial.jpress.co.uk/web/Upload/LEED/TH3_46201023nle4-0506-06-0406-131356.jpg (http://javascript<b></b>: ShowThumb(0);)
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/images/1pixel_spacer.gif (http://javascript<b></b>: ShowThumb(1);)
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/images/1pixel_spacer.gif (http://javascript<b></b>: ShowThumb(2);)
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/images/1pixel_spacer.gif (http://javascript<b></b>: ShowThumb(3);)
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/images/1pixel_spacer.gif (http://javascript<b></b>: ShowThumb(4);)
A decorated British Army veteran locked up in an Afghan jail has had his first heart-wrenching visit from the devoted wife and daughter fighting for his freedom.
As reported in the YEP earlier this week, ex-Royal Military Police Officer Bill Shaw, 52, from Leeds, has been convicted of bribery by a tribunal and sentenced to two-years in prison.
* Click here to sign up to free news and sport email alerts from your YEP. (http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/custompages/CustomPage.aspx?pageID=73960)
His family have launched a desperate fight to prove his innocence and secure his freedom and were allowed to visit him in a Kabul jail.
* Click here to follow the YEP on Twitter. (http://www.twitter.com/leedsnews)
Mr Shaw, who was awarded an MBE for military service, was visited by his wife Liz and daughter Lisa Luckyn-Malone, below, who are campaigning for his release from a notorious Afghanistan jail where Taliban fighters are held.
They told the YEP they were shocked to see him chained, unshaven, showing weight loss and suffering low morale.
Through a glass barrier, they were able to show him the support from the thousands of people across Britain and around the world who are backing their campaign by signing up to an online petition to the Prime Minister, writing to their MPs or joining social networking sites.
Mrs Shaw said: "We are torn apart to see him in such a state.
"He's locked up in solitary confinement for most of the day and this is obviously affecting him mentally as well as physically.
"Lisa and I are trying to stay strong for him, but it's very difficult, very heart-wrenching.
"However, we have taken some comfort from the way everyone has been respectful to us, including Bill's prison guards.
"We have been welcomed by many Afghan people who also believe Bill is innocent and have told us what an honest and good man he is."
Mr Shaw was working for G4S, a British security group protecting diplomatic personnel, when he was arrested over a £13,000 payment for the release of two impounded armoured vehicles belonging to the company.
Officials reportedly disappeared with the money and he is now serving a two-year sentence.
Mr Shaw's legal counsel has lodged an appeal against the sentence, which was passed on April 26 this year, and he is now waiting for a court date, which may not take place until July.
Mrs Shaw said: "The family is completely shocked by the judgment which runs against the principles of natural justice.
"It is important to the family that people understand Bill is a man of the highest possible ethical and moral standards who has served his country with distinction, both when he was in the army and then when he supported reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Yet he faces two years in an Afghanistan prison for a crime he did not commit.
"Bill is a real family man, a father-of-three children and a grandfather-of-two.
"We are calling on the Afghan and British authorities to overturn this patently unfair judgment as quickly as possible."
YEP readers can support the campaign by signing the online petition at www.petitiononline.com/WS260410 (http://www.petitiononline.com/WS260410) or on facebook.com at the Free Bill Shaw page, as well as at: www.twitter.com/freebillshaw (http://www.twitter.com/freebillshaw)
Treated like a dog, he cares. Afghanistan does not. They would sooner release the Taliban.
If you are an animal lover please help this man. THANK YOU ALL!