Australian Channel 9 News Covers Case of Chau Van Kham, Democracy Activist Imprisoned in Vietnam: Michael Polak Interviewed on UN Application and Hopes for Release
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Australian Channel 9 News Covers Case of Chau Van Kham, Democracy Activist Imprisoned in Vietnam: Michael Polak Interviewed on UN Application and Hopes for Release
Justice Abroad’s Director Michael Polak is acting with Sydney lawyer Dan Nguyen on behalf of Mr Chau Van Kham, a 71-year-old Australian democracy activist who was arrested in January 2019 and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment after a hearing which failed to comply with international provisions on due process.
Mr Van Kham’s teams have made submissions to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention which argue that the conditions of pre-trial detention, lack of confidential access to a lawyer, and trial procedures which lasted only 4.5 hours for 6 defendants, as well as the vague nature of the charge and the fact that no evidence of any criminal acts was put before the Court rendered the trial unfair and in breach of international law and mean that Mr Van Kham’s continued detention is arbitrary.
Michael Polak, director of Justice Abroad told Channel 9 the following:
“We are fairly confident they [United Nations] will be on our side in this…. this will give the Australian Government further ammunition to say you are holding an Australian citizen, he hasn’t had a fair trial, you need to release him”
The wife and mother of Chau Van Kham, who was arrested in 2019 also spoke to 9 News about how harrowing and difficult this experience has been for them. Chau Van Kham was arrested in Vietnam in 2019 for being part of the pro-democracy group Viet Tan. His family have not been allowed direct contact with him and worry about his health in Vietnamese custody at the age of 72. Chau’s mother told 9 News that she wants him to come home before she passes away.
The full Channel 9 piece can be accessed here
On social media we will be using the hashtag #FreeChauVanKham.
Media requests for interviews with Michael Polak or members of the family can be accommodated in any language requested and should be made by contacting Justice Abroad by email at contact@JusticeAbroad.co.uk or phone on +44 (0)203 488 2316.
Notes to Editors
Justice Abroad, www.justiceabroad.co.uk has been set up to help those trying to find their way through foreign justice systems with all the associated hurdles that presents, to represent those facing gross breaches of their human rights no matter where this takes place, and to advise and assist the victims of crimes as to how to achieve justice.
Justice Abroad, run by international lawyer Michael Polak, has assembled a team of top investigators, lawyers, and support staff to provide unparalleled support, advice, and guidance, legal, advocacy, and investigatory service for your Justice Abroad issues anywhere in the world. The Justice Abroad team with their trusted international pool of multilingual experts, their networks, and media contacts and their well-documented determination to leave no stone unturned in the search for the truth and justice for families who have been denied it are here to provide that much-needed support for families and individuals in their time of need.
Justice Abroad’s Director Michael Polak is acting with Sydney lawyer Dan Nguyen on behalf of Mr Chau Van Kham, a 71-year-old Australian democracy activist who was arrested in January 2019 and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment after a hearing which failed to comply with international provisions on due process.
Mr Van Kham’s teams have made submissions to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention which argue that the conditions of pre-trial detention, lack of confidential access to a lawyer, and trial procedures which lasted only 4.5 hours for 6 defendants, as well as the vague nature of the charge and the fact that no evidence of any criminal acts was put before the Court rendered the trial unfair and in breach of international law and mean that Mr Van Kham’s continued detention is arbitrary.
Michael Polak, director of Justice Abroad told Channel 9 the following:
“We are fairly confident they [United Nations] will be on our side in this…. this will give the Australian Government further ammunition to say you are holding an Australian citizen, he hasn’t had a fair trial, you need to release him”
The wife and mother of Chau Van Kham, who was arrested in 2019 also spoke to 9 News about how harrowing and difficult this experience has been for them. Chau Van Kham was arrested in Vietnam in 2019 for being part of the pro-democracy group Viet Tan. His family have not been allowed direct contact with him and worry about his health in Vietnamese custody at the age of 72. Chau’s mother told 9 News that she wants him to come home before she passes away.
The full Channel 9 piece can be accessed here
On social media we will be using the hashtag #FreeChauVanKham.
Media requests for interviews with Michael Polak or members of the family can be accommodated in any language requested and should be made by contacting Justice Abroad by email at contact@JusticeAbroad.co.uk or phone on +44 (0)203 488 2316.
Notes to Editors
Justice Abroad, www.justiceabroad.co.uk has been set up to help those trying to find their way through foreign justice systems with all the associated hurdles that presents, to represent those facing gross breaches of their human rights no matter where this takes place, and to advise and assist the victims of crimes as to how to achieve justice.
Justice Abroad, run by international lawyer Michael Polak, has assembled a team of top investigators, lawyers, and support staff to provide unparalleled support, advice, and guidance, legal, advocacy, and investigatory service for your Justice Abroad issues anywhere in the world. The Justice Abroad team with their trusted international pool of multilingual experts, their networks, and media contacts and their well-documented determination to leave no stone unturned in the search for the truth and justice for families who have been denied it are here to provide that much-needed support for families and individuals in their time of need.