Patrick Malluzzo, 31, has spent four-and-a-half years in a federal prison in Kota, a town in Rajasthan state, 500 kilometres south of New Delhi.
He and his family maintain that he should not be in prison. His relatives and supporters maintain he got into trouble because of a wayward travel companion. When Patrick was arrested he was not told why, and was never found with drugs on him or in his luggage. The facts that surround his case are unbelievable and as time goes by, Patrick suffers terribly.
After a trial that lasted two-and-a-half years (no word of English was spoken ), a court in Kota sentenced Malluzzo to 10 years in jail along with a fine of 100,000 rupees (then US$2,190 ). It acquitted Dean, his travel companion, who had another lawyer, giving him the "benefit of the doubt." Patrick's mother, Teresa Malluzzo, nee Grace, originally of Callan, Kilkenny has fought hard for Patrick's freedom along with her family and a growing number of supporters.
I have written letters to Patrick where he has told me of the horrendous conditions he lives in and what his daily life entails. With Patrick's permission and his family’s blessing, the Kilkenny Advertiser is publishing excerpts from Patrick's diary.
You can support Patrick by signing his petition on http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/PATRICKMALLUZZO/ If you would like to write to Patrick, the address is as follows: Kota Centre Jail, Kota, Rajasthan, India.
This is the final excerpt in Patrick’s diary.
Continued from last week...
Sorry I realise I'm going backwards and forwards. I'm just writing as things come to me. I had a visit from my friend the other day, not good news about my appeal. Everything seems to be in a right mess so I'm feeling pretty hopeless now. I am allowed a visit every 15 days, we are separated from our visitors by fences four feet apart so it's over a 100 prisoners with even more visitors shouting across to each other it's hard to hear and actually enjoy the visit. Also we only get a measly half an hour. I often wonder why the guards behave as they do? Lack of training? Because they are paid peanuts? They enjoy the power?
I believe there's an old Yugoslav proverb that says they enjoy the power and ass-kissing because they get treated like crap themselves, and so then, take it out on the prisoners.
At this time drugs in the jail aren't a big problem. They are here but not openly. When I got here almost five years ago I was shocked to see prisoners smoking smack off foil in front of the guards. Now it's very quiet thank God. I was even offered some by a guard on my second day.
From 3pm to 5pm, I wait for post. It makes my day when I receive a letter. I cannot tell you how much a few lines from family, friends and supporters lifts my spirit. I love it. I think I'd go crazy without them. I don't have much hope. On paper it's black and white that this is a miscarriage of justice. Even under Indian law I should be released by now. However, the wheels of justice turn very, very slowly here. Also because I have spoken out about my torture and conditions here, I believe my appeal is being delayed in revenge for that.
Maybe I'm paranoid, but why would scores of murderers, rapists and thieves be released on a regular basis. How they freed my co-accused for lack of evidence when our charges were identical? The lack of evidence was also true for me. How could they keep me without charge for over a year? How are the police not called to question when they were proven to have falsified documents, perjured themselves in court and refused to answer under cross examination? Not to mention the torture. Why were they not questioned after they forced me to confess on TV? Why was my alibi by a prosecution witness not allowed but allowed for my co-accused?
You know what... I would love to make the documents public or put them on the internet so people could see how farcical it all is. If I listed everything here this would go on forever.
Please let the people of Kilkenny know that firstly, the drugs were seized in Kota Rajasthan. Secondly, I was arrested in Bombay — three months later proving I was not in possession. We are talking 24 hours in distance here. Thirdly, no finger prints or forensics link me to the drugs. Fourthly, not one witness claims to have seen me with drugs at any time. I have a cast iron alibi which is backed up by documentation Even the circumstantial evidence is proven forensically to be nothing to do with me. That's the railway booking form with my name on it — which forensically proves it's not my handwriting but that of my co-accused! Go figure.
Well I'll leave it there, no doubt I'll think of loads more once this is posted. Love to all.
Patrick.
If you are interested in helping Patrick and his family, any ideas on raising awareness or funds please contact me in the Kilkenny Advertiser office or drop me an e-mail to sport@kilkennyadvertiser.ie. Myself and Patrick's relatives are trying to organise an outdoor concert for next March with all funds going towards his case. Any help would greatly appreciated.
