(no subject)
I thought I had it rough this weekend, until I spoke to my father today.
It seems he made an enemy, who had some friends in high places paid off to arrest him.
My 70 year old father spent the weekend in a Mexican Jail.
To begin with, my Dad lives in Chapala, an area of Mexico that is well populated with "ex-patriots": retired American and Canadians mostly, but lots of other nationalities as well.
His Neighborhood is a lovely gated community with a board of trustees (an Association), of which he is the chairman.
So there is this local man who wants to build a building that would require the Chapala town council to agree upon and provide permits for, as well as my father as Association Chairman to sigh off on.
The man went to my father and demanded that my father sign off on his permit, but as the town council had not cleared it, my father refused. Luckily, Dad has two witnesses (a neighbor and his wife) to say what happened when the man came by.
But this man claimed to the police that my 70 year old father (who has arthritis and a previously fractured spine) CHASED him down and beat him, tried to strangle him, and threatened to kill him.
The Man's boyfriend and friend are supporting the claim, saying they saw it from a parked car.
My dad was arrested on Friday and thrown in Jail.
NOW ... if you don't know what a Mexican Jail is like, just imagine a 12' x 12' cement cell with bars, and 8 men crammed inside it.
Sandra, Dad's wife, tried to post bail but the Police said they were "too busy" to process the paperwork so he had to wait until Monday to be released.
My father was in terrible pain because of his back so he lied on the floor, as there were no chairs or beds. He did however meet his fellow inmates: an accused kidnapper, two accused murderers and a few thieves. His remarks were that the inmates were quite kind, and each interacted with the Police guards on my fathers behalf to get them to lay off. They assisted him whenever he needed to get up, get water, and were polite to him.
As my dad said in his own words, "Their former transgressions meant nothing to me as they were such a great help when I was flat on my back!"
So on Sunday my father had his wife order 8 Chicken dinners with all the trimmings, and sent to the prison for himself and his fellow inmate compadres...
GO DAD.
He was released on Monday, and his trial is tonight.
(I think strange lives run in the family)
It seems he made an enemy, who had some friends in high places paid off to arrest him.
My 70 year old father spent the weekend in a Mexican Jail.
To begin with, my Dad lives in Chapala, an area of Mexico that is well populated with "ex-patriots": retired American and Canadians mostly, but lots of other nationalities as well.
His Neighborhood is a lovely gated community with a board of trustees (an Association), of which he is the chairman.
So there is this local man who wants to build a building that would require the Chapala town council to agree upon and provide permits for, as well as my father as Association Chairman to sigh off on.
The man went to my father and demanded that my father sign off on his permit, but as the town council had not cleared it, my father refused. Luckily, Dad has two witnesses (a neighbor and his wife) to say what happened when the man came by.
But this man claimed to the police that my 70 year old father (who has arthritis and a previously fractured spine) CHASED him down and beat him, tried to strangle him, and threatened to kill him.
The Man's boyfriend and friend are supporting the claim, saying they saw it from a parked car.
My dad was arrested on Friday and thrown in Jail.
NOW ... if you don't know what a Mexican Jail is like, just imagine a 12' x 12' cement cell with bars, and 8 men crammed inside it.
Sandra, Dad's wife, tried to post bail but the Police said they were "too busy" to process the paperwork so he had to wait until Monday to be released.
My father was in terrible pain because of his back so he lied on the floor, as there were no chairs or beds. He did however meet his fellow inmates: an accused kidnapper, two accused murderers and a few thieves. His remarks were that the inmates were quite kind, and each interacted with the Police guards on my fathers behalf to get them to lay off. They assisted him whenever he needed to get up, get water, and were polite to him.
As my dad said in his own words, "Their former transgressions meant nothing to me as they were such a great help when I was flat on my back!"
So on Sunday my father had his wife order 8 Chicken dinners with all the trimmings, and sent to the prison for himself and his fellow inmate compadres...
GO DAD.
He was released on Monday, and his trial is tonight.
(I think strange lives run in the family)