The family of James Ricketson insist he is not a spy, after the Australian filmmaker was convicted of espionage in Cambodia.
The 69-year-old was sentenced to six years in prison by three judges in Phnom Penh on Friday, 15 months after being detained for flying a drone without a permit over a political rally.
The verdict was devastating news for Mr Ricketson's adopted daughter Roxanne Holmes, the key driver of a Change.org campaign that calls on Australia's new Foreign Minister Marise Payne to "act now" on her father's behalf.
Human rights advocates have condemned the sentencing of filmmaker James Ricketson, who was found guilty of espionage in a Cambodian court. Source: AAP
Ms Holmes is extremely concerned about Mr Ricketson's welfare, noting he has lost a lot of weight, had skin problems and many undiagnosed health issues.
"Unless the Australian government responds quickly, my innocent dad could die in jail. I’m petrified - every day matters now as he gets sicker," Ms Holmes said in the petition.
"I’m so worried for dad’s rapidly deteriorating health - He is almost 70 frail and squashed in a tiny cell with 140 others. It’s so cramped, they have to take it in turns to lie down. Body lice are eating him alive."
Journalist and former communications manager at Change.org, Gary Nunn, has been in regular contact with Ms Holmes about the campaign.
He said it's "extremely important" for Australians to get behind the petition to call for government intervention, noting that Ms Payne's predecessor Julie Bishop had assisted in securing the release of Australian journalist Peter Greste, who was held in Egypt for more than 400 days.
"This is one of the very best citizens of Australia. James Ricketson has spent his entire life helping those less fortunate than himself," Mr Nunn told SBS News.
"We all got behind Peter Greste and that case became very high profile, and I think that James' case has been bubbling along in the background. I think we need to ramp up the level of outrage so that it's equal to, if not more than that of Peter Greste."
"James is a filmmaker"
Mr Ricketson's nephew Bim Ricketson said their hope for a good outcome had turned to grave concern.
"We would be very concerned about his health over six years in those conditions and his mental state," he told reporters in Sydney.
"There are no mattresses and, importantly, very little medical attention available. For someone who is sick and has a number of ailments, it is very challenging for him."
Mr Ricketson was hopeful his uncle would be found innocent, adamant he was not involved in espionage.
"James is a filmmaker. He is a humanitarian. He cares deeply for the Cambodian people. Especially the poor people," he said.
"There is no way he is a spy, so it is devastating that he could get a sentence like this for being the person that he is."
The family is seeking support from the Australian government to put pressure on Cambodia to release James Ricketson.
-With AAP
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