I would like to thank everyone for providing continued support for my family in Plymouth and for the daily words of comfort to my mother, brother, sisters and all of their families. I have been amazed by the number of people showing their concern for my livelihood.
I have been humbled by the response of friends from all corners of the globe, friends that I have worked with in different mining operations around the world, friends that I studied with at Camborne School of Mines, friends from my teenage years and even friends from my primary school. I hope that I will have the opportunity to thank you all personally in the not too distant future.
I am extremely grateful for the support given by my friends to my wife in Thailand. Nueng has had a torrid time from the day that I was arrested. She has been amazingly strong in maintaining her poise and looking after our children in the most difficult of circumstances. I was not allowed to speak to my wife from prison but since my release on bail I have spoken to her on a daily basis. Nueng has been granted a visa to enter the UK and is hoping to visit The Gambia next month after staying with my family in Plymouth.
I have been well supported by my friends in The Gambia. I am currently staying in a hotel while waiting for each court appearance. The hotel is popular with British tourists and there is a steady stream of new arrivals from the UK, with more than a few from the Westcountry taking advantage of the flight from Bristol Airport. I am in good health and getting a bit of exercise. I have been trying to keep myself busy by engaging in some outside activities, boating, fishing and sightseeing.
My next court appearance is set for 1100 hours, Monday 07 April. I have no idea how long the court case will take. The prosecution lawyers have yet to produce any witness statements or evidence to support the ludicrous charges against me. The police had no evidence but I was still charged on four counts of economic crimes. I feel that I have little chance of a fair trial.
March 28, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Charlie
I thought that I would copy the front of the latest CSM Association Newsletter to you, as am not sure when you will get to see it, and to let you know that the thoughts and best wishes of the CSM Association members are with you. Nick Wilshaw also brought your plight to the attention of the attendees at the recent CSM Annual Dinner in Falmouth.
Take care and good luck.
Claire Yelland (CSM Association Secretary)…
CSM ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER – March 2008
CSM GRADUATE FACES GAMBIA “ECONOMIC CRIMES” TRIAL
Charlie Northfield, a CSM 1980 graduate from Plymouth, has been arrested by the Gambian Government and is accused of economic crimes, along with his employer British mining company, Carnegie Minerals and Australian listed Astron. The allegations are that the Company has been commercially mining Titanium, Iron ore and Uranium from its mineral sands Licence in The Gambia. The Company strongly refutes these charges.
The Company wants to make clear that a component of mineral sands (Ilmenite, for which they are licensed to mine) is Titanium and Iron oxide. They would also like to clarify that trace amounts of uranium occurring in the Gambian mineral sands, are non commercial, as is the case of the trace uranium deposits in most soils around the world.
Charlie joined Carnegie on October 26th to become the manager of its licensed mine in Gambia. On 15th January, Carnegie received a letter from the President’s office instructing it to cease operations. Such was the tone of the letter that the company immediately withdrew all of its personnel from the country.
The company has provided all information requested and its position has been independently verified by SGS – a leading independent testing and inspection organisation. On 4th February, Gambia’s Attorney General and Secretary General were sent to London to meet the company’s Chief Executive. At that meeting the officials gave assurances that Gambia wanted operations to be restarted and that there was no risk to the safety and freedom of Carnegie’s staff. Because of these assurances, Carnegie allowed Charlie to travel to Gambia to start planning the restarting of operations.
Shortly after his return, Charlie was arrested and thrown in gaol. Bail was set on a Friday evening, too late for it to be raised, at US$250,000 and with surety of two US$100,000 properties owned by Gambian nationals.
Alan Hopkins MD of Carnegie Minerals commented:
“We were duped into allowing Charlie to return to the country. They now seem intent on a swift trial. We call on all governments with relationships with Gambia, and on all travel operators which take Britons to the country, to take heed of this situation: Gambia may seem a perfectly safe country but your assets and people could be at risk.”
Charlie remained in jail for a week but has now been released on bail from Mile 2 prison. The bail deposit of US$450,000 has been secured by Alan Hopkins, MD of Carnegie Minerals.
Charlie is unable to leave the country having had his passport confiscated.
Alan Hopkins, MD of Carnegie Minerals said:
“We are relieved that we have finally broken through the Gambian bureaucracy and freed Charlie from the appalling conditions he faced at Mile 2 prison.
The campaign doesn’t slow down here as he still faces false charges. We will not stop until Charlie is able to return to his family with his name cleared and these ludicrous charges thrown out.”
In an e-mail received from Charlie after his release he said the following:-
“It was a huge relief to get released on bail yesterday and to get a good night’s sleep. It’s been an ordeal that I would not wish on anybody. I spoke to my family as soon as I was released, Nueng of course has been worried sick since I was arrested and I was not allowed to talk to her for the whole week I spent in jail. I have a court appearance on Monday, I don’t how long the judicial process will take but hopefully not too long.”
The following media release on 5th March 2008, comes from the legal charity Fair Trials International – “That Mr Northfield has been charged with offences alleged to have commenced 10 months prior to his appointment as a mining engineer with Carnegie Minerals plc shows how shaky these charges are,” said Fair Trials International (FTI) Head of Legal Team Sabine Zanker. “Moreover, we are deeply concerned at his treatment by the Gambian authorities; upon arrest Mr Northfield was interrogated by police without a lawyer present and, while he has been released on bail, he is unable to leave The Gambia. The trial is scheduled to commence on March 17, 2008. This has left scant time for preparation of a defence. However, his employer Carnegie Minerals plc is providing support for him, and FTI will similarly assist in efforts to secure the dismissal of all charges against him. The charges against Mr Northfield fly in the face of commonsense and all available evidence. He should be released and allowed to return to the UK and his family,” concluded Ms Zanker.
Carnegie Minerals have posted a blog and a Facebook web site for Charlie:-
Blog: http://www.getcharlieoutofgambia.wordpress.com;
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/freecharlienorthfield;
To all of us who know Charlie well, I was surprised at his comment about ‘getting a good night’s sleep’ . Charlie was always renowned for being able to sleep anywhere and at any time, even in the Portreath Arms….we left him with his shoe laces tied together and when he finally woke up, surrounded by OAPs, he stood up took a step a fell face forward over a table full glasses …. he said it was one of the most embarrassing moments he had ever had..
Please do whatever you can to help and visit the sites above for information or just adding your comments.
We have had many messages of support from Association members, including Ross Milne (1984) who underwent an equally unpleasant experience some years ago.
Nick Wilshaw (1980)
Chairman, CSM Association
April 3, 2008 at 7:14 am
Charlie,
I have just read through the latest updates, hopefully there is some progress, and that you are reunited with your family and friends asap.
What a way to get 280,000 hits and 10 pages on Google !!, and by the way what were the uranium grades and is it worth mining ??
Our thoughts are with you,
Best wishes
Scott Yelland (a few years after you)
May 27, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Hi again Charlie
Sorry to hear your plight continues, with no real conclusion. Are Carnegie looking after you. Their web site is not very up to date on your situation, perhaps they should be engaging some “specialists” to expedite your leaving Gambia?
Anyway good luck over there.
We had an OB’s gathering in Perth a few weeks ago and had a motley collection from all over, Mel and Jimmy “the Whale” Jewell and the Schimelds Mark and Linda sat with us and in amongst the old reminiscing with story’s growing to now legendary status our thoughts went out to you and the family.
Having worked in Guniea I can understand a little of what you must be going thru, be patient and stay strong. Its amazing how many people are watching your situation and showing concern for your wellfare, you have many friends.
Talking of friends, Nick Wishaw and John Sammut would do a prisoner exchange but Gambia can’t afford to feed them! Frank Kenny would come but he’d just confuse them, you know “lets get flood lights so we can train in the dark” or “this next two weeks is going to be an important month” funny what you remember, from all those years ago.
Keep that smile on your face, take care and very best of luck “arf arf”.
Tim Gooch
June 1, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Hi Charlie,
Dad was here today and read your Easter Mesage, he is quite worried and you are in his thoughts.
We all your Canadian cousins, and our families are keeping you in our minds and hearts as we pray this ordeal will became a great tale to tell your grandchildren.
So happy to hear your wife is on her way to Gambia to be with you I can only imagine how much relieve this brings you.
I shall be watching this site and keeping in touch with your family as to how things are moving along, ever so slowly I would imagine.
Your spirt seems so strong and you are enduring this remarably, can’t say as I would be that strong. Lived quite a sheltered life here in the burbs.
Take care my prayers are with you and your family.
Love Maureen, Len, Chip & Kristofer
June 5, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Hi Charlie,
Long time again…last time we spoke things where much better than they are just now and you where at home in Thailand.
I can’t believe it is only now I am finding out about this huge injustice, only because I print the Yengema Old Boys newsletter and I was emailing Jon Forster and remembered you pic, did a search and viola…bob is your aunties husband.
I believe you are in court today and I know you will get out, this is a F***ing political cock up of huge proportions. I assume your last few months have been spent practicing your Cribbage…Well I have learnt to count now, so look out when you get back, as I will bring a pack of cards and a case of STAR beer…ha..ha..ha
We look forward to seeing you very soon. Everyone at the YOBs sends their best (especially my dad Ralph).
All Best
Alun Owen
Yengema Golf Club Sierra Leone