Brazilian Foreign Ministry Issue Response Which Contains Incorrect Statements and Inaccuracies Which Could Damage Craig's Case. Click here to read.

THE FACTS

• Craig Alden was arrested and jailed on July 1st 2002, charged with abuse and neglect of children under his care at the Abrigo Warboys Orphanage in Planaltina Goias, Brazil.

• Prosecuted by Local Officials who Craig had challenged in previous court actions

• Craig Alden, a British Citizen, was convicted in early November and sentenced to 48 years imprisonment to be served in the local civil prison in Planaltina.

• Craig Alden did not have a defence submitted on his behalf because his original lawyer missed a statutory deadline that exists in Brazil for a defence statement to be lodged.

• Vital defence evidence proving the charges to be false [defence witness statements, voluntary retraction of statements from alleged ‘victims’ and medical evidence] was ignored by the judge.

• In the Judge’s summing up statement she states that Craig’s lawyer did not attend all of the hearings, that she failed to submit a defence statement, that said lawyer did not remain in the courtroom during the hearings and that said lawyer is now subject to investigation for her actions in this case. The judge concluded that the charges were ‘proven’ on the basis of the prosecution case alone.

• It should be noted that Craig has had a well documented dispute with the local government officials directly involved in his case [specifically the Prosecutor and Judge] in that he has resisted their plans to use the Abrigo as a holding centre for drug users and child prostitutes. Craig has consistently refused to accept such individuals because he felt that the children within the orphanage would have been put at risk.
The local Prosecutor in this case has recently sought to have the sentence increased beyond the current 48 years as she feels that it is insufficient punishment for the crimes in question. This action has been greeted with incredulity by ministers within the Federal Government in Brazil.