To the AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION.
14 December 2001
I am writing in relation to the ABC Program ‘Missing – Presumed Alive’, aired on Monday December 3rd of this year. I was the subject of this program in which slanderous and defamatory comments were made.
I am requesting a copy of this footage, but more importantly I request a public retraction regarding the untruths this documentary has made public.
The defamatory material contained in the segment includes the statement that I am currently in jail, thus convicted of an offence. However, I do not have a criminal record nor am I currently imprisoned.
Accordingly I will be pursuing damages in relation to the detriment I have suffered in relation to these defamatory statements. This detriment being also related to the fact this program has not just been aired nationally but internationally in the past as well, hence this matter requires urgent redress.
Yours truly,
ADDENDUM.
May I also say, that NO credits was given to all the private videos the producer was using and which I did supplied him with. Further on, I was arrested in Stockholm and spend 63 days in custody - not in jail ! I was acquitted of all the charges against me - not because, as it says in the documentary, "hard pressures.." etc - but because the accusations against me, on all points, was not in any case proven.
There is in fact a number of statements in the documentary which in one way or the other besmirches my good name, not only as a professional but also being the sole legal custodian for my dear little kidnapped son in accordance to the Family Court of Australia and the Swedish Family Court. And I am still the legal sole custodian for my son !
It is also said in the documentary that the Swedish legal aid was cut off for all time, after the arrest, but the fact is that the Swedish Legal Aid did continue to pay for my further legal proceedings in the Philippines of this dreadful case, up to year 2000. And to a total of US dollars, 1.5 million.
This facts, can be confirmed by the Swedish authority's and the Swedish attorney Bengt Nestrup.
The intention behind the documentary production is in my opinion very shady and I'm really demanding a public apology and a correction ASAP. Approx. 43 question was filmed and recorded originally and only one or two was used in the final edition, as far I can understand. This matter shall never 'go away' until this nasty and malicious statements made in the program has been corrected.
The ABC,s responsibility in this case is obvious. I am considered, world wide, being a professional in my field, and this statements made in the documentary film described above and below, will ruin my career.
http://theartofpolitics.homestead.com/
http://writingsrelatedsjolander.homestead.com/
----- Original Message -----
From: Ture Sjolander
To: progsales@your.abc.net.au ; 7.30syd@your.abc.net.au ; comments@your.abc.net.au ; thepublicrecord@your.abc.net.au Cc: ; lateline@your.abc.net.au ; arrhenius.eriksson@zeta.telenordia.se ; registrator@justice.ministry.se
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 4:20 PM
Subject: URGENT MATTER , Missing presumed alive
To The ABC TELEVISION AUSTRALIA.Sir/Madam,
Last Monday night the 3rd of December, I watched for the very first time, part of a program named: Missing - presumed alive. A documentary about kidnapped children. I am the subject in this documentary and I have earlier asked for a video copy of the program but have so far been denied to get a copy. As I have heard from many people, many times this documentary has been televised several times on ABC television and overseas.
I will herewith in writing request for a video copy of the documentary.
Further more I would like to get your attention about a possible defamation case against ABC television could be a result, as my person is being described in the program in a very serious and untruthful manner.
It's said in one segment that I am in "jail" !
To be in jail, presuppose that one have been convicted! It's clearly implay that I have been convicted.
I have never been convicted in my life time !!
The publisher, in this case, ABC television, have the responsibility: ABC documentary has to be corrected very soon as it has caused a lot of problems for me and my family and friends and will continue to do so in the future! I am therefore asking ABC for a public and prime time slot to have this errors corrected for a broad public. A copy of this e-mail will be posted to your legal department as well as to a number of my legal advisers.
Please inform your legal department at ABC television about this matter.
Cordially
Ture Sjolander