Mum issues heartbreaking update after son detained alone in Taiwan prison over 'substance in suitcase'
The mum of a young man detained in a prison in Taiwan has issued a heartbreaking update on the case.
Lewis Potter, 25, has been held behind bars in a Taiwanese jail since he travelled to the country back in June. Shortly after arriving he was detained by officials, his family have said.
Unable to speak the language and caged 'thousands of miles from home' his loved ones are facing a 'nightmare' as his detention now surpasses three months.
Professional dance teacher Lewis, from Fife, has been locked up after it was alleged he had carried a 'substance' in a suitcase. No further details have been confirmed.
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His mum Andrina says she has not been able to reach him and has had no contact with him since authorities arrested him and took him into custody, saying she is 'not coping'.
Lewis claimed 'bag was not his'
She has spoken to LADbible about the ordeal and says that her son has since been encouraged to consider pleading guilty to the charge in order to receive a lesser sentence, with efforts then made to move him back to the UK.
His heartbroken family say Lewis has 'consistently maintained' that he had no knowledge of the substance in the luggage, which belonged to a friend and was not his, and was due to be given to another member of the group who was already in Taiwan.
He was detained shortly after arriving. Now it's feared he could be looking at eight years behind bars, his mum has said.
"Lewis says this was someone he trusted, and he had no reason to believe there was anything wrong with the suitcase," his mum said in an online post.
His family were able to eventually appoint a lawyer in Taiwan, through the help of crowdfunding, and a representative from the British Office in Taipei was previously allowed to check on him and his condition.
They have so far spent over £13,000 on legal fees.
"Until then, no one had been able to speak to Lewis, hear from him or visit him not even the British Embassy," Andrina previously wrote.
"We had no choice but to pay for a lawyer to go and see him, and everything we know about Lewis and his situation has come through that meeting.
"We are also deeply worried about Lewis’s mental health and wellbeing. He is alone in a foreign country, unable to communicate with his family, and we haven’t even been able to hear his voice.
"As parents, not knowing how he is coping has been absolutely heartbreaking."
"It's breaking my heart"
Speaking to LADbible months after the ordeal began, Andrina said: "It's been nearly four months that they have had my son and I have not seen him or heard his voice. It's breaking my heart.
"Nothings really happened since, as the lawyer only gets in touch when he sees Lewis which isn't very often.
"It's cost us over £13,000 up to know and the Embassy never get in touch, it's me that contacts them.
"I honestly don't know how my son is and how he is coping. I am not coping with it, I cry everyday and miss my son so much."
She continued: "The last thing the lawyer said is that he may have to get Lewis to plead guilty or he would be looking at eight years plus. I should hear something this week.
"I don't know if he has seen or heard from anyone. I haven't spoken to him all the time he has been arrested and as a family were all struggling, especially myself. I don't know anything else.
"It's a absolute disgrace, especially not letting my son speak to me or anyone in nearly four months."
Richard Baker, Labour MP for Glenrothes and Mid Fife previously spoke out after Andrina was 'denied contact' with Lewis in the weeks following his arrest.
"The situation has been a nightmare for her," he explained. "Her son is locked up thousands of miles away in a foreign country, where he doesn’t speak the language and is entirely isolated by a communication restriction order.
"Andrina has no intention of interfering with Taiwanese law, she only seeks what any parent would under the circumstances - the right to see her son and check on his welfare."
UK-based charity Prisoners Abroad, which provides humanitarian aid, advice and emotional support to people affected by overseas imprisonment, also came forward with an offer of assistance. They have been contacted for comment by LADbible.
The nature of the substance has not been confirmed, however, Taiwan enforces strict zero tolerance drug laws under the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act.
Possession of certain substances can carry carrying severe penalties including life imprisonment, or huge fines.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said previously: “We are supporting the family of a British national detained in Taiwan and are in contact with the local authorities.”
The Foreign Office has been approached for further statement.
Topics: UK News, Travel, World News
James Holt