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 News from Around the Americas | March 2008 
New Allegations Surface in Mexican Jail Stalemate
 Dave Sykes - Goderich Signal-Star
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| | Brenda Martin continues to be held in Mexican jail without charges | | |
An Ontario woman continues to be held in Mexican jail without charges as new allegations surrounding the case suggest that two women are being held as collateral by Mexican authorities for unpaid debt.
Brenda Martin, the Ontario woman who has been detained in a Guadalajara jail for more than two years, has been awaiting trial but has yet to face any charges. She has been pleading with Canadian government authorities for several weeks to help secure her release from Mexico or, at least, help expedite the judicial process.
The former Huron County resident was arrested after her former boss, Alyn Waage was charged with masterminding a fraudulent internet scheme that bilked thousands of investors out of millions of dollars. Martin, who had worked for Waage as a chef, but was fired in 2001, insists she knew nothing of the scam. Waage has also substantiated her claim of innocence in a sworn affidavit, adding that she could not have possibly known about the scam.
This week, in an interview with Canadain Press, Waage claims that he struck a deal with Mexican authorities, who are now waiting for a payment of $500,000. After agreeing to the deal, Waage fled to Costa Rica and now claims that Martin and Rebecca Roth, an American and former employee, are being held as ransom for the payment.
Last week, Foreign Affairs Minister, Maxime Bernier, met with Mexico’s Patricia Espinosa in Washington, to source a legal resolution to the issue and he was offered assurances that Martin’s lawyers would be able to talk to the country’s deputy-attorney general.
Later in the week, the minister responsible for multiculturalism, Jason Kenney, visited Martin in Mexico and it was reported that Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a call to Mexican president Felipe Calderon to discuss the case.
Until the most recent allegations from Waage that the two women are being held for ransom, Martin’s uncle, Doug Currie of Goderich, was encouraged by the involvement of the Harper government.
“The government has come a long way and I am pleased to see that there has been some movement,” he said. “I sense in Brenda’s voice that she is more defiant, especially about health issues.”
While there has been public outcry and mounting pressure for the government to assist the jailed Martin, Currie knows that work behind the scenes will be an effective catalyst in his niece’s case.
“I am certainly more optimistic this week and hope they can do something,” he said. “There is a greater hope that quiet diplomacy is effective in this case.”
After launching an appeal to Huron-Bruce constituents, Liberal MP Paul Steckle has received more than 6,000 letters and e-mails, appealing to the Harper government to “stop sitting on its hands on this matter.” While the response has been overwhelmingly supportive, Steckle was hoping to present 105,000 letters and emails of support for Martin, to PM Harper when the House of Commons reconvenes on Monday after the Easter break.
Faxes can be sent to (613) 995-6350 and emails can be directed to: steckp@parl.gc.ca and include: Help Brenda Martin in the subject line.
Local Support for Imprisoned Canadian
News Wires
The high-profile case of a Canadian woman in a Mexican prison continues to ripple through the office of Huron-Bruce MP Paul Steckle.
As the story develops around Brenda Martin, who spent part of her childhood in Clinton, a number of letters have been delivered to Steckle's office.
Spokesman Greg McClinchey says they have about 6-thousand letters but would like to see even more supporting Martin's rights as a Canadian.
McClinchey says the fact is Martin hasn't been brought to trial in over two years and hasn't been given due process.
You can still get more information on the campaign at Steckle's Goderich office - 519-524 6938 or 1-800-465-1726. |
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