GEORGE NEWS – The families of Frik Potgieter (53) from George and Peter Huxham (55) from Langebaan, are pleading with the South African Government for help to have their loved ones released.

For more than nine months, these two South African engineers have been detained in a prison in Equatorial Guinea and the families are calling on Government to ensure their loved ones are home for Christmas.

They believe this forms part of Government’’s responsibility and mandate to assist and protect its citizens.

A spokesperson for the Potgieter family, Shaun Murphy, says the two men are innocent bystanders who have been caught up in matters that have nothing to do with them.

“Can you imagine how utterly powerless and distressed they must feel? Quite honestly, the families are now completely desperate. Christmas is around the corner, which is a very important time for these deeply Christian families, but without Frik and Peter at home, it will be near impossible for the families to enjoy the celebrations during the festive season,” Murphy said.

Highly experienced engineers

Potgieter and Huxham are highly experienced and professional engineers who were working for the Dutch company SBM Offshore in Equatorial Guinea when they were arrested at their hotel in Malabo on drug-related charges on 9 February. The families are convinced that these charges were fabricated.

They were convicted and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment. In addition, they were ordered to pay $5M USD (R93,7m) each in damages, with additional fines to be shared between them.

The fines are vastly in excess of what is normal for that country.

The families believe in the men’s innocence and the matter is currently being appealed by Potgieter and Huxham’s lawyers. At this stage there is no indication as to when the appeal will be heard in court.

Both Potgieter and Huxham have denied all charges from the outset, and are shocked that any allegations related to drugs would be brought against them.

Original article found here