An elderly British man accused of attempting to smuggle £200,000 worth of methamphetamine into Chile has been released from a high-security prison on health grounds. William 'Billy Boy' Eastment, 80, originally from Wales, had been detained in Santiago 1 Penitentiary since May, where his physical condition deteriorated rapidly.
Severe Health Decline in Custody
During a hearing at the Santiago Guarantee Court, both prosecutors and defence lawyers agreed that Eastment's health had badly worsened while incarcerated. His lawyer, Macarena Vial, detailed multiple chronic conditions that were severely aggravated in prison.
'He is in a very critical health situation, with chronic problems that have been severely aggravated in Santiago 1,' Vial told the court. 'He is a person requiring care, basically. He has a chronic lung disease, a colostomy that poses a constant risk of infection, and a series of other problems.'
Medical Supply Challenges
The court heard that Eastment requires special colostomy bags that must be imported from abroad at significant expense. The prison system does not provide these essential medical supplies, creating dangerous gaps in his care.
'Every time his supply runs out, he hasn't had the medical supplies to contain the waste, constantly exposing himself to the risk of infection,' Vial explained. 'Obtaining colostomy bags has been quite complex. The family had to transfer funds to the embassy, and from there they bought them and sent them to Santiago.'
Eastment also suffered multiple bouts of pneumonia while in custody and lost more than three stone in weight during his detention. His lawyer noted he is 'practically no longer self-sufficient' and presents minimal flight risk.
Transfer to House Arrest
Under the court ruling, Eastment has been transferred to a shelter in western Santiago arranged with support from Chile's Public Criminal Defence Office. Here he will serve house arrest while receiving daily care and supervision.
'He will be able to access his treatments, and they will provide him with the medications he needs,' Vial said. 'It was a big effort, but it turned out well.'
Prison Experience and Emotional State
During his detention, Eastment faced significant language barriers and relied on other inmates for communication. 'For the first six or eight months, he was with someone who spoke native English, and they formed a very nice friendship,' his lawyer explained. 'After that, he was more alone.'
Vial described his emotional state as fluctuating: 'At first, he went through some very difficult times because he didn't see much of a way out. But we've tried to support him and give him some hope that this isn't permanent.'
Despite his challenges, Eastment managed to build relationships within the prison. 'He's someone who inspires compassion; many people have taken care of him,' Vial noted.
The Alleged Smuggling Operation
Chilean authorities claim they discovered £200,000 worth of methamphetamine concealed in Eastment's luggage in May last year. Sergio Paredes, head of the PDI anti-narcotics unit at Santiago airport, said Eastment told officers he had been handed the suitcase by a stranger in Mexico shortly before boarding his flight.
'He alleged he had been deceived,' Paredes said after the arrest on May 26. 'He claimed he had been promised a prize of £3.7 million for delivering the suitcase to its final destination - and was even carrying a rudimentary certificate referring to the prize.'
Elaborate Scam Allegations
Eastment maintains he was ensnared in an elaborate international scam. He told prosecutors he believed he was corresponding with figures linked to the International Monetary Fund before being instructed to travel abroad regarding an alleged inheritance.
'In these emails, a person named Carolina, whose surname he does not remember, informed him that one of his relatives in New Zealand had died and that in order to access that person's inheritance, he had to travel to Auckland, New Zealand, to sign certain documents at a public notary's office,' Vial explained.
The elderly man claimed he was told he would spend just one night in Santiago before continuing to Australia, unaware of the drugs concealed in his luggage.
