Ken Graham update September 2013

Many people have written me asking for updates on Ken’s status and condition. Regretfully, the news is not good.  The legal process here is so slow.  Staying in any hospital for 17 months is no pleasure but it is better than a stay in the City Jail.  It would take thousands of dollars to lift Ken out of the financial hole he is in.  Maybe folks can toss in 20 to 100 dollars.  As Ken says, any amount will help.

Kenneth Graham 3:00pm Aug 30

Dear Friends,

In the last letter of appeal in early may of this year, Judge Erum had ordered me to go back to prison despite the Government Dr.John Kit saying I was not fit enough to withstand the harsh environment with the overcrowding (64 prisoners to a cell), no ventilation and restricted electricity of the local jail.

As a result of the Judge’s decision an appeal was made to the Appellate Court and a Certiori submitted to that court (attachment 1). So far in respect to that appeal nothing has been resolved and I am still in the Ospital Ning Angeles (ONA).

Since that date in late May there has been a deterioration in my condition and the last updated report of Dr Kit states;

“In addition to having difficulty in breathing (Chronic Asthma), chest pains, difficulty in urinating, leg pains and abdominal enlargement (Final stage of cirrhosis of the liver F4), he has developed dizziness probably vasovagel in nature which we attribute to lack of oxygen supply to his brain. He has been given separate medication for blood flow.”

Since the may 8th. hearing there has only been one more on August 7th. 2013. Because of my medical condition I am excused from making an appearance unless necessary and my Attorney Francisco Yabut sent me the following text.

“Hi Ken, We are done with the hearing. The Court remarked some of the documentary evidence for the prosecution. The Judge allowed us to file our demurrer to evidence within a period of 15 days from receipt of order on the admission of prosecution’s formal offer of evidence with Attorney Bicol (Prosecution) also given 15 days to comment – opposition to our demurrer to evidence. After which the court will resolve the demurrer.

The tentative date for next hearing is on October 23rd. 2013. I will then have been detained for 19 months.  Having been detained for 17 months already for only 13 hearings, I have run up huge debts despite my four children, my bother and sister and a few friends helping me.  I still owe the original hospital 175,000 pesos (A$4,400). The hospital I am now confined in 40,000 pesos (A$1,000). My lawyer 110,000 pesos (A$2,750) plus other debts.  I have sold every asset that I have. I hoped to get some money from my deceased wife’s estate as she owned part of the leases on Coyote Hotel and Bar. The leases expired with virtually no assets.

With ongoing expenses for medication, doctors bills , hospital fees are adding up to be far in excess of my small pension. My immediate family does its best but they also have families to take care of.  I make an appeal for help no matter how small or big.

Yours sincerely, Ken Graham

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