The mother of Jonathan Isabelle, this 25-year-old young man imprisoned in Japan for more than three years for having transported drugs there, denounces the fact of having no information or no support from the federal government to repatriate her son, whose conditions of detention would be “dangerous”. She has just filed a lawsuit in Federal Court against the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Posted at 7:19 p.m.
“I’ve been asking for consular notes from the government for months, because I want to see how they’re handling the file. But I am refused them, even though I am entitled to them. They are above the law that they themselves have created,” criticizes the young man’s mother, who prefers to remain anonymous.
In February 2019, Jonathan Isabelle had transported to Japan considerable quantities of methamphetamines and other drugs, worth more than 20 million. He was then promised the sum of $20,000 in exchange. Upon arrival, however, he was arrested by Japanese authorities. The court determined that he should serve eight years in prison and pay $35,000, a lesser sentence than the 20 years he was facing, in part because the young man believed he had cannabis in his possession.
Three years later, Jonathan Isabelle’s mother is still trying to have him repatriated to a Canadian prison. It’s because her son has borderline personality disorder and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) requiring medication, which he cannot take daily in the prison where he is in Japan.
It really is another world. We send him to solitary confinement for nonsense. He can’t even take his medication, and develops more and more tics.
Jonathan Isabelle’s mother
“His mental health is at stake,” sums up the mother, who only receives three letters from her son a month.
“Alone against a machine”
Me Pierre Tabah, a lawyer specializing in prison law who accompanies the mother in her efforts to obtain consular notes, deplores “that there does not seem to be a real desire on the part of the federal government to help the lady in her efforts”.
“We are going to plead that the authorities must make a clear communication of the complete information which is requested, according to the law, quite simply. The only reason they might withhold information is if the information is confidential, or if it compromises someone’s security or that of the state. Otherwise, they must communicate what remains, ”continues the lawyer.
In his eyes, his client “is fighting alone against a machine” which could at least support her more.
From experience, I can tell you that people rarely go that far to get information. And we don’t understand why.
Me Pierre Tabah, lawyer specializing in prison law
He confirms that affidavits – the mother’s version, her motion and the essence of her steps taken so far – were filed Wednesday in the Federal Court, which will now have to decide whether Ottawa should transmit or not the requested information.
Ottawa remains cautious, the Bloc demands information
Called to react, the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated to The Press that “consular officials are following this case closely and continue to provide frequent consular assistance to the Canadian detained in Japan and to his family in Canada, within the limits of the consular mandate”.
“Due to the provisions of the Privacy Act, no additional information can be disclosed,” spokeswoman Sabrina Williams said simply. The office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, redirected our questions to the department.
According to Rhéal Fortin, Bloc Québécois MP for Rivière-du-Nord, who supports Jonathan Isabelle’s mother in her efforts, the federal government’s attitude in this matter is “simply unacceptable”.
It is his right to have access to these documents. And if it is not possible for such and such a reason, we explain to him why. But at this moment, we say nothing to him, absolutely. And we’ve been postponing for a year.
Rhéal Fortin, Bloc Québécois MP for Rivière-du-Nord
“That, for me, is making fun of people. And above all, it is not assuming its role as a government official, ” castigates the Bloc member.
“A lot of documents are confidential, I understand that. But I wouldn’t be shocked in the same way if Madame had received redacted documents, for example. There, we are just fooling her. It’s childishness. I would be embarrassed,” adds Mr. Fortin, demanding an explanation.