Pirate Bay’s Founder To Be Deported

September 4, 2012 by
Filed under: Announcements & Events, Legal P2P News & Issues 

We follow on yesterday’s report about Gottfrid Svartholm. As it seems, Cambodian authorities decided to deport TPB’s founder at the request of his home country.

The news was brought by Cambodia’s deputy police commissioner after a meeting with Swedish authorities. He said:

“Wherever he goes, we don’t know.”

A report from the local Phnom Penh Post confirmed that a meeting between National Deputy Police Commissioner General Sok Phal and Swedish authorities took place this morning in order to decide the fate of the 27-year-old Swedish man.

As no extradition treaty exists between Cambodia and Sweden, the latter filed a request for Svartholm to be deported. As such, Cambodian authorities agreed on this:

“We will use the Immigration Law against him to deport him out of our country and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng will sign on the deportation request letter from the police commissioner soon,” said Phal.

“We will have to just deport him, wherever he goes, we don’t know, but he has to be out of Cambodia,” he concluded.

Under Cambodian law, it’s probably that TPB’s founder will see Cambodia’s deportation jail, situated 7 km west of Phnom Penh.

At the time he’s being held at an undisclosed location by the Ministry of Interior’s immigration department.

A TorrentFreak source drew a picture of what it means to be under the mercy of Cambodian authorities, and it’s not pleasant:

I was arrested in Phnom Penh as a result of drugs misuse. The misuse of drugs lead me to assault a fellow expat after a falling out between us.

I was detained in a Sangkat (commune) jail for 4 days whilst awaiting transfer to the deportation jail which is housed opposite Pochentong Airport, located 7 km west of Phnom Penh. I was detained there for approximately 4 weeks whilst my return home was arranged and paid for by a nominated person in my resident country, liaised with via my embassy.

You sleep on the floor. You may have a wicker type mat in the cell, though that’s not guaranteed. There are between 1 and 5 people per cell.

During the time in the detention block you’re fed rations enough for three small meals a day, all food delivered in the morning. A diet of instant noodles (once you buy yourself something to boil your water with) and bread. You’re entitled to extras such as cigarettes at the discretion of the warden.

During my time there you were subject to 24 hour lock up as fraternizing on the landings which was previously allowed had led to drugs being exchanged. The only time out of your cell is to meet with embassy staff which may happen once a fortnight or so (sometimes more regularly depending on the number of detainees from one country).

So it’s going to be a hard time for Gottfrid, but at least we hope that he’ll get in one piece back to Sweden.

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