A wealthy British hotelier could face up to 20 years in an African “hell hole” prison after he was charged with money laundering alongside his Italian expat wife. Simon Wood, 51, was jailed on the paradise island of Zanzibar, in the Indian Ocean, after he was arrested with Francesca Scalfari, 45, just over two weeks ago.
His family said police shaved his head when he was taken into custody and then placed him in a cell with 200 other dangerous inmates, including murderers. They also said the pair have been denied basic needs - including access to water - and relatives haven't been allowed into the jail to see them on several occasions.
Those close to the couple claim their arrest is linked to lawsuits brought against them by ex-investors in their hotel, The Sharazad Boutique, dating back to 2017. But as these matters were later settled in favour of Simon and Francesca, they're now "at a loss" to explain why new criminal charges arose earlier this month.
