William “Billy Boy” Eastment, a 79-year-old pensioner from Milborne Port near Yeovil, finds himself trapped in Chile’s notorious Santiago 1 Penitentiary, accused of transporting £200,000 worth of methamphetamine hidden in his luggage. Arrested in May after arriving from Mexico, Eastment’s case has sent shockwaves through his peaceful local community.
A retired heavy goods vehicle and bus fitter, Eastment had no known criminal background and was an enthusiastic player of bowls and fishing. His detention came as a surprise to neighbours who struggled to reconcile the allegations with their perception of him.
Despite a judge initially approving his transfer to house arrest, prosecutors swiftly appealed, and an appeals court reinstated his custody, citing concerns for public safety. Medical assessments warned of serious health risks, but the court maintained that Eastment must remain detained.
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Adding to his plight, Chilean prosecutors have requested an extension to the original 120-day investigation period, potentially lengthening his time behind bars while authorities build their case before formal charges are presented.
New details reveal Eastment’s claims of being duped. He alleges that a woman named Carolina, posing as an International Monetary Fund official, contacted him and convinced him to carry a false-bottomed suitcase containing over five kilograms of methamphetamine from Mexico to Santiago. He was told he would receive a £3.7 million reward for delivering the suitcase.
Chilean police reports state that Carolina approached Eastment in a Mexico City hotel and handed over the suitcase, locked with a padlock for which he was not given a key. Eastment also mentioned receiving emails from scammers impersonating the IMF, a tactic the real IMF has recently warned the public about.
His legal team insists Eastment was the victim of a sophisticated scam. She revealed that emails claimed one of Eastment’s relatives in New Zealand had died, requiring him to travel there to complete inheritance paperwork. Unaware of the fraudulent nature of the messages and lacking advice, Eastment embarked on a complex international journey.
Although facing possible sentences of up to 15 years, local legal experts believe a prison term closer to five years is more probable if Eastment cooperates in plea negotiations. Prosecutors have obtained permission to extract data from his mobile phone and tablet to establish contacts and connections relevant to the investigation.
Eastment’s sister Jennifer, speaking from her home in Cwmbran, described him as “gullible” but not involved knowingly. She recalled a previous scam where he lost £20,000 to a fraudulent plea for legal fees from a woman posing as her.
As the investigation continues, Eastment remains held in harsh conditions, now facing the grim reality of spending Christmas behind bars, innocent or not.