South African Woman Jailed in Thailand: Mother Seeks Royal Pardon

Lynn Blignaut is seeking the release of her daughter, Ashley Oosthuizen, through a Thai royal pardon process expected to take place in July.

Oosthuizen, a South African national, has been imprisoned in Thailand for nearly six years. Her legal troubles began in October 2020 on the island of Koh Samui, where she was arrested at the age of 21. The arrest followed her signing for a delivery parcel that contained approximately 260 grams of ecstasy.

At the time of the incident, Oosthuizen was employed at a restaurant called Hot in the Biscuit, where she assisted in management. The establishment was run by her then-boyfriend, an American businessman named Tristan Nettles. Oosthuizen had transitioned into the restaurant role after losing her previous employment as a teacher during the Covid-19 pandemic. She maintains that she was unaware the parcel she signed for contained illegal substances.

The situation led Blignaut to relocate from George, South Africa, to Thailand to be closer to her daughter and facilitate visits. Blignaut has stated that she continues to pray daily for her daughter’s freedom and the opportunity for her to rebuild her life.

The Thai legal system typically reviews applications for royal pardons twice annually, coinciding with the birthday of King Maha Vajiralongkorn in July and another period in December. These processes allow for the reduction of sentences or, in certain instances, the early release of prisoners.

Oosthuizen previously received a sentence reduction during a prior pardon cycle. Her family is now hoping she qualifies for immediate release during the upcoming July window.