New Zealander needs just NZ5,000 dollars to get out of Philippines jail | Bangkok Post: news

News > Asia

Kiwi needs NZ$5,000 to get out of Philippines jail

A New Zealander jailed in the Philippines for over a year says that he needs just NZ$5,000 (120,000 baht) to avoid spending the next 20 years behind bars.

Immigration and recruitment agent Vernon Wayne Gardiner, 66, has been jailed for 16 months in Virac in Catanduanes province after he failed to find a job in New Zealand for a Filipino man who paid him just under NZ$5,000 as a placement fee.

Vernon Wayne Gardiner says that he needs just NZ$5,000 (120,000 baht) to avoid spending the next 20 years behind bars in the Philippines - but so far no-one has come forward with the money and the New Zealand government has refused to give him a loan. (Photo: Cataduanes Tribune)

This article is older than 60 days, which we reserve for our premium members only.You can subscribe to our premium member subscription, here.

Your comments

  • Discussion 6 : 21 Mar 2013 at 09.466

    I have a feeling there is more to this story.

  • Discussion 5 : 20 Mar 2013 at 17.235

    Perhaps a cash advance from his credit cards

  • Discussion 4 : 20 Mar 2013 at 16.574

    It is really outlandish for a government to collect taxes from this guy for many years and then abandon him to die in a prison! I wouldn't care if it was a European prison, where the inmates can do whatever they want! This is in a developing country where relatives outside locally take care of their own, like you do in Thailand. Found this petition if you want to spread the word: http://www.causes.com/actions/1741689-free-mr-gardiner-from-philipine-jail# Do your good deed for today and pledge to help spread the word!

  • Discussion 3 : 20 Mar 2013 at 15.433

    Is this a news item or an appeal for funds?
    He’s been found guilty of illegal recruitment and received a harsh sentence. The NZ government rightly won’t help, so if you do the crime you serve the time (although 20 years seems somewhat excessive).

  • Discussion 2 : 20 Mar 2013 at 15.352

    Why doesn't Mr Gardiner go and work for Mr Diwata until he has paid off his debt to him?

  • Discussion 1 : 20 Mar 2013 at 14.511

    Jesus! What a stupid and irresponsible reason or excuse the NZ Govt. has! For goodness sake, if his reason of getting into this situation is all proved to be genuine and that for NZ$5,000 can set him free as a freeman, I really can't comprehend that why not a single NZ fellow country man is willing to help? Or even Embassy employee? I would, if the NZ Govt. can be the witness and guarantee that it is all genuine with no complication and that it can be proven at the end of the day he is free after the money is paid. No need to be a loan, even for free!

Reply

Sign in once and access every part of the website at your convenience!

Please log in to our Bangkokpost.com community to post your comment.
You can sign in to the community by clicking here.

If you are not part of the community yet, please sign up here. By being part of this community you will get all these privileges.