Daughter fears for imprisoned father's life

The daughter of New Zealander Graham Cleghorn says her father will die soon due to appalling conditions in his Cambodian prison cell, the Dominion Post reported today.

Cleghorn, 58, is serving 20 years in Phnom Penh's Prey Sar prison for raping five teenage girls in what his lawyer Greg King calls a farcical trial. Cleghorn maintains his innocence, saying he was set up.

The New Zealand Government had already raised concerns at the way Cleghorn's trial was handled.

Heidi Madeley, 33, visited her father in August last year and said he was so ill and emaciated she didn't recognise him.

"He's lost a lot of weight. He's lost most of his teeth because of the prison diet. What little food he does get he can't chew. He's getting sicker and sicker by the minute," she said.

Mrs Madeley said her father was showing signs of emphysema and suffering cramps in his chest and legs.

"He is going to die very soon. It's either that or he's going to kill himself."

Cleghorn sleeps on a thin foam mattress, is not fed enough and receives no medical attention.

Last month Cleghorn's appeal was conducted and dismissed without his or his lawyer's knowledge.

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said he had asked the ministry to take care of, and monitor, the situation.

He had authorised officials to visit Phnom Penh.

- NZPA