63 27′′
...EDIATE
DESKBY 281200Z SEP 78
CYPHER CAT A
FM BANGKOK 683915Z SEP 79
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
W62
TO IMMEDIATE DISTRESS FCO TEL NO DISTRESS 160 OF 8/9/78
RITA NIGHTINGALE.
1.MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ASKED CONSUL TO CALL TODAY TO DISCUSS CASE WITH DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE.IN THE EVENT DUSS WAS ENGAGED IN MEETING WITH VIENTMANESE PRIME MINISTER AND HE WAS REPRESENTED BY DR SUMSQ WASANTAPRUEK OF TREATY AND LEGAL DEPT WHO STRESSED THAT HE SPOKE ON BEHALF OF DUSS,
2.MR SUMET BEGAN BY STATING THAT MISS NIGHT-
INGALE AND OTHERE WERE ARRESTED AS THE RESULT OF A TELEX FROM HONG KONG AUTHORITIES AND THAT AS THERE WAS NO DIRECT
EVIDENCE AGAINST THE TWO CHINESE THEY AHD TO BE
RELEASED. HE SAID THAT THE MFA CONSIDER THAT MISS NIGHTINGALE
MAY WELL HAVE BEEN VICTIMISED, THAT THEY WERE VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT HER CASE, BUT THAT THE DEFENCE HAD
BEEN UNABLE TO CONVINCE THE COURT OF HER INNOCENCE, THE WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE BEING AGAINST HER.
3.MR SUMET POINTED OUT THAT THE CASE HAS
NOW CLOSED AND COMMENTED THAT MISS NIGHTINGALE HAD NOT LODGED AN APPEAL TO THE SUPREME COURT PRESUMABLY FOR FEAR OF AN INCREASE IN SENTENCE SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE GERMAN/
.AMERICAN SULVIA WARD. IT WAS NOW OPEN TO HER (IF
SHE SO DECIDED) TO FILE A PETITION TO THE KING, BUT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS MIGHT VIEW SUCH A STEP
CONFIDENTIAL
/ UNFAVOURABLY,