Please help us to free Jimbo from Vietnam

*UPDATE*

We were recently informed by the embassy that they had been given the approval from Vietnamese authorities to go in and visit James to check on his welfare and mental health. Unfortunately we received a phone call to be advised that they could not go in and it had been rearranged for the following day. 

 On arrival, the consulate were advised that they could not ask James or the police in the room anything to do with the investigation as it was still on going and that the reason for this visit is solely to check on his well being and mental health and to pass on any messages from family and friends.

The Embassy provided the family with a detailed report stating that James is coping the best he can given the circumstances he is currently in at the moment, however he feels he that he is struggling with his breathing due to immense humid conditions and he has also broken out in stress lumps and spots which is all over his head and body. These were visible by the consulate staff and have now requested that a doctor goes in to re check his health as he is currently being given medication for this but it is not working. Due to him being diagnosed with alapecia he has other autoimmune deficiencies which need medical attention also. 

James has been informed that myself (brother) and his Dad had recently travelled over to Vietnam in the hope of finding him. James was overwhelmed by this and was shocked to understand that everyone is doing what they can to help him and support him ❤️. 

We still do not know how long he will be detained over in Vietnam and if he will be sentenced or deported. It has now been confirmed that James has requested that we find an English speaking Lawyer to help represent him. He was also advised that it could take some time and money for family members to go over and visit him as everything has to go through diplomatic channels. 

They stated in the report that he has been getting food and water but this is only classed as the basic rationing for each day. He is currently sleeping on a tiled floor with no mattress or pillows and is sharing a cell with 2 other detainees. 

 The consulate has advised us that we can send money through their financial system but this will only reach James when they go in to check on him - which is once a month.  

Please help if you can, and share this story to as many people you can.

 We as a family, would like to thank everyone for their continued support and generosity - it truly means so much to us ❤️

Since creating this page we have had some news regarding James whereabouts. On the 30th may we were informed by Merseyside police who had been notified by the British embassy that James had been arrested on the 23rd of may and he is now being detained in the local police station pending an investigation which could take anything up 12 months, after speaking with a Vietnamese lawyer we are under the impression that James could possibly be bailed out within 2-3 weeks depending on the severity of the crime committed. 

We still have had no official contact with James as the embassy still haven’t been allowed entry to see him for him to give consent to speak with us but are working on getting in to see him ASAP.

In the case of James getting bail we have been informed that they will hold the bail money and his passport and James will remain in the country until the sentencing. 

 We have updated the post as we have had lots of people messaging regarding James’s situation and concerns for his welfare. We have also had lots of support from family and friends and are really grateful for everyone’s generosity with contributing to James’s legal fees and possibly getting him home safe and well. 

Rest assured every single penny that has been raised to help, is going towards getting him home in any ways possible. 

We as a family would be really grateful if you could share this post update on any social media platform possible and we will be back with more info as soon as possible, thank you! 

Hi my name is Carl Ryan. I am setting up this page because my younger brother James (Jimbo) is currently being detained somewhere in Vietnam, around the Ho Chi Minh City area. We last had contact with him on Sunday 19th May via a voice note that was left by himself advising us that he had been arrested in Tan Son Nhat airport and that he was being held in the immigration department who were demanding money only to let him go.

unfortunately we already knew that James had no money on him and had lost his bank card a couple of days prior to him being detained.

With James being unable to pay any sort of money to them, they proceeded to charge him, but the charge was not approved according to another voice note that he was able to leave us at that time. This was the last form of contact/information we have received from him.

We filed a missing persons report on Monday 20th May with our local authorities/police so they have now passed the information to interpol and the embassy but they are still unaware of his whereabouts.

We have again been in contact with the British Embassy based over in Vietnam but again they have no information to give to us.

As a family we are now extremely concerned for his wellbeing and safety.

We are kindly asking for any donations so a family member can fly Vietnam to try and find James or to gain any helpful information as to where he is and if he is ok.

Thank you ❤️