Brenda Martin, a Canadian who has been imprisoned in a Mexican jail since February 2006. She was arrested and jailed in a 9 x 12' cell with 11 women, nearly five years after her former employer was arrested, in what was believed to be the biggest Internet-based pyramid fraud scheme in history. Brenda was the chef for Alyn Richard Waage, owner of an investment company that turned out to be fraudulent. Waage fired Brenda in 2001 with severance pay, where she than invested the money into Waage’s business which she thought was legitimate.
Although she was charged with being a member of a criminal organization and money laundering, there has never been a trial where she has been able to present her defence. And she is not aware of any evidence being presented to prove her guilty of those charges. Despite pleas from citizens and media around the nation, the Government of Canada has failed to act in intervening in this case. Recently, Brenda was visited by former Prime Minister Paul Martin to offer support. Mexican Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa said, the trial has been delayed by legal procedures. She said her ministry was in frequent contact with the Canadian government about the case.
Finally on April 7, there was a hearing came as a complete surprise to Brenda, who was not represented by her lawyer. She said she knew the Canadian ambassador was coming from Mexico City to visit her, but it wasn't until she met with the ambassador that she was told she would be attending a hearing with the judge. The judge promised her and the Canadian ambassador to Mexico that he would try issue a ruling by April 18. However, the judge added the proviso that he may not be able to make the decision if something unforeseen arose.
"The judge told me I should take this as a good sign," Brenda said. "But I don't know. I have been made so many promises and two years later I am still here."
