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Northern beaches filmmaker James Ricketson on life in a Cambodian jail cell for espionage

Northern beaches filmmaker James Ricketson tells of his sham arrest as a spy and his ambition to rescue Cambodian families living in squalor.

Australian filmmaker James Ricketson arriving in Phnom Penh court during his trial.  Picture: TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP
Australian filmmaker James Ricketson arriving in Phnom Penh court during his trial. Picture: TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP

“Espionage!” I exclaimed incredulously. “You’re charging me with being a spy?” The investigating judge nodded. “You’re kidding me...”

He wasn’t. A few minutes later — on June 9 2017 — I was handcuffed, pushed into the back of a police vehicle and driven to Cambodia’s infamous and hopelessly overcrowded Prey Sar prison, looking at a possible 10-year jail sentence.

James Ricketson, an independent documentary journalist from the northern beaches, was locked in Cambodia's Prey Sar prison for 15 months and had to share a cell with 150 inmates.
James Ricketson, an independent documentary journalist from the northern beaches, was locked in Cambodia's Prey Sar prison for 15 months and had to share a cell with 150 inmates.

Within a couple of hours a metal door clanged open and I was ushered into a 10m x 10m cell containing 150 prisoners, packed in like sardines.

The cell leader allocated me a sleeping space that measured around 15 x 15 inches.

“Am I supposed to sleep standing up?” I asked myself in shock.

So began 14 months of pre-trial detention before a seven-day show trial that had all the seriousness of an extended comedy routine, being found guilty of espionage, despite the total lack of evidence and receiving a six- year jail sentence. Neither the prosecutor or judges could identify which country I was spying for.

Why was I arrested by 13 policemen, without a warrant, on June 3 2017?

For flying a drone without a permit at an opposition political rally the day beforehand, as reported in the media?

James Ricketson, an independent film maker from the northern beaches, has set up a charity to help families who spend their lives scavenging on and living alongside the Choeung Ek rubbish dump in Cambodia's capital city, Phnom Penh.
James Ricketson, an independent film maker from the northern beaches, has set up a charity to help families who spend their lives scavenging on and living alongside the Choeung Ek rubbish dump in Cambodia's capital city, Phnom Penh.

For having been a vocal public critic of the Cambodian Government for more than 20 years? As payback from certain Australian Non Government Organisations (NGOs) I’d had the temerity to ask, in my Cambodia blogs, questions they did not want to answer?

Twice in the past six years I had been tried in absentia for defaming NGOs, only learning of the charges against me when a journalist called to ask for my response to the court verdict.

And why, three weeks after my trial, did I receive a King’s Pardon and find myself on the next flight home?

The answers to these questions and many others will be found in my book, What Country Am I Spying For? — a work in progress.

James Ricketson speaks to the media upon arriving at Sydney International airport on September 23, 2018 after he was released from a Cambodian jail. Picture: Saeed KHAN / AFP
James Ricketson speaks to the media upon arriving at Sydney International airport on September 23, 2018 after he was released from a Cambodian jail. Picture: Saeed KHAN / AFP

In the meantime I am using my 15 minutes of media fame to raise money to buy houses for, and in other ways help, impoverished families working in and living alongside the Phnom Penh rubbish dump.

Family By Family, set up by myself and members of my family, has raised $40,000 to date, just $10,000 short of our $50,000 target.

I would like everyone who reads this and who is moved by this photo to make a donation of $5 to Family By Family.

This is roughly the cost of a cup of coffee, so please do, dear Manly Daily reader, have one less coffee this week.

James Ricketson, an independent film maker from the northern beaches, has set up a charity to help families who spend their lives scavenging on and living alongside the Choeung Ek rubbish dump in Cambodia's capital city, Phnom Penh.
James Ricketson, an independent film maker from the northern beaches, has set up a charity to help families who spend their lives scavenging on and living alongside the Choeung Ek rubbish dump in Cambodia's capital city, Phnom Penh.

Or, if you are feeling particularly generous, give up two cups of coffee.

And any schools, businesses or corporate sponsors in the area that might be interested, please make contact. Once we have our $50,000 we will start raising the next $50,000.

For between $7000 and $10,000 we can take a family from the rubbish dump and give its members a fighting chance to make a decent and much healthier living.

Penguin colony bounces back on the northern beaches

Imagine being able to give a whole family a chance for a new life for just the cost of 2000 cups of coffee.

Dig deep, dear neighbours, and may you all have a fruitful and happy new year.

Originally published as Northern beaches filmmaker James Ricketson on life in a Cambodian jail cell for espionage

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Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/crimeinfocus/northern-beaches-filmmaker-james-ricketson-on-life-in-a-cambodian-jail-cell-for-espionage/news-story/9bb07c0e82fc4cb6c722ef7ae9525d67