In a major twist in Fashion Designer Anand Jon's case, two American models have come forward to testify on oath that Jon is being "falsely implicated". One of the two models -- Britney Harrington, claimed that she was approached over the phone, to make false allegations against the fashion designer, and when she refused, she was threatened into keeping mum.
Britney and Jami Huebscher, who had accompanied Anand Jon for 12 weeks right before his arrest in March 2007, claimed that they have seen those models who've accused Jon of hobnobbing with him, using his premises, his computer and trying to be close to him. Most of the allegations against Jon by these models are of incidents that happened in 2003, 04 and 05
(Timesnow.tv)
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Two US models stand up for designer Anand Jon
Rohit Khilnani / CNN-IBN
Mumbai: Two US based models have come forward in defence of the Indian born designer Anand Jon. Anand is under trial in the US on several charges of rape and sexual harassment.
The two models had earlier worked with the designer and have now come forward to plead for Anand Jon's innocence. The US based models have also alleged that they were even asked to join the rest of the girls to lodge false complaints against the designer.
"These girls need to be made accountable. I challenge them to come forward. I was there. Nothing happened,” says model, Britney Harrington.
Prosecutors in Los Angeles have charged Anand Jon with a total of 46 counts of rape, sexual battery and sexual exploitation of a minor involving 18 victims in California and his bail amount has been priced at a huge $2.5 million.
Since March, Anand Jon has spent over 9 months in jail. Jon's family however is alleging that the designer is being framed as his business was set to expand with a 15 million dollar funding from Wall Street. Earlier in January 2008 Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi had assured Anand Jon's family that he would persuade the External Affairs ministry to take up the case.
(CNN-IBN)
Mumbai: Two US based models have come forward in defence of the Indian born designer Anand Jon. Anand is under trial in the US on several charges of rape and sexual harassment.
The two models had earlier worked with the designer and have now come forward to plead for Anand Jon's innocence. The US based models have also alleged that they were even asked to join the rest of the girls to lodge false complaints against the designer.
"These girls need to be made accountable. I challenge them to come forward. I was there. Nothing happened,” says model, Britney Harrington.
Prosecutors in Los Angeles have charged Anand Jon with a total of 46 counts of rape, sexual battery and sexual exploitation of a minor involving 18 victims in California and his bail amount has been priced at a huge $2.5 million.
Since March, Anand Jon has spent over 9 months in jail. Jon's family however is alleging that the designer is being framed as his business was set to expand with a 15 million dollar funding from Wall Street. Earlier in January 2008 Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi had assured Anand Jon's family that he would persuade the External Affairs ministry to take up the case.
(CNN-IBN)
Designer victim of sexed-up charges: models
Mustafa Plumber, Hindustan Times
mustafa.plumber@hindustantimes.com
IT IS not all grim for India-born celebrity fashion designer Anand Jon, who faces sexual impropriety cases in the US. Two models have come forward to testify in court about a conspiracy to falsely implicate him and harm his career.
In the city on Monday, models Britney Harrington and Jami Huebscher disclosed they had been approached over the telephone to make false allegations against the designer and when they refused, they were warned against talking about the conversation.
The two models worked with Jon for 12 weeks before his arrest in March last year.
Speaking to mediapersons at Jon’s lawyer Majeed Memon’s office, Harrington and Huebscher claimed they had seen the models who accused Jon of sexual exploitation using his premises and trying to get close to him.
“Anand is innocent. I challenge the girls (who have accused him of rape or molestation) to confront me,” Harrington said. “I was there (when the alleged incidents happened) and nothing of it has ever happened.”
She said some of the “accuser” girls even approached her to “recruit” her, asking her to join them in their complaints against Jon. “I got threatening calls, asking me to keep quiet,” she said. “I am ashamed of our (US) justice system.”
Huebscher, too, said she saw nothing of the things Jon was being accused of by the others.
“I was present on several of the occasions when those incidents (allegedly) happened,” she said.
“He is innocent.”
Both Harrington and Huebscher said the charges stemmed from a larger conspiracy to stop Jon’s professional growth.
(Article from Hindustan Times)
mustafa.plumber@hindustantimes.com
IT IS not all grim for India-born celebrity fashion designer Anand Jon, who faces sexual impropriety cases in the US. Two models have come forward to testify in court about a conspiracy to falsely implicate him and harm his career.
In the city on Monday, models Britney Harrington and Jami Huebscher disclosed they had been approached over the telephone to make false allegations against the designer and when they refused, they were warned against talking about the conversation.
The two models worked with Jon for 12 weeks before his arrest in March last year.
Speaking to mediapersons at Jon’s lawyer Majeed Memon’s office, Harrington and Huebscher claimed they had seen the models who accused Jon of sexual exploitation using his premises and trying to get close to him.
“Anand is innocent. I challenge the girls (who have accused him of rape or molestation) to confront me,” Harrington said. “I was there (when the alleged incidents happened) and nothing of it has ever happened.”
She said some of the “accuser” girls even approached her to “recruit” her, asking her to join them in their complaints against Jon. “I got threatening calls, asking me to keep quiet,” she said. “I am ashamed of our (US) justice system.”
Huebscher, too, said she saw nothing of the things Jon was being accused of by the others.
“I was present on several of the occasions when those incidents (allegedly) happened,” she said.
“He is innocent.”
Both Harrington and Huebscher said the charges stemmed from a larger conspiracy to stop Jon’s professional growth.
(Article from Hindustan Times)
Friday, January 18, 2008
She wants justice for designer son Anand Jon
By Radhika Bhirani
New Delhi, Jan 16 (IANS) Shashi Abraham, the mother of US-based designer Anand Jon, is leaving no stone unturned to fight for justice for her son who was arrested eight months back on charges of rape and sexual harassment of 30 women in that country.
She and daughter Sanjana are on their second visit to India since Anand's arrest last year and are holding candle light vigils as well as seeking government intervention to free Anand, who Shashi claims is a victim of "professional rivalry".
"The charges against my son are an unfortunate consequence of professional rivalry and racial attack," Shashi told IANS.
"Not many designers make it big internationally. Seeing my son, especially a 'brown boy', score exceptional success was probably not acceptable by many people there who eventually conspired against my son."
Just last week they organised a candle light vigil at the India Gate in protest against the designer's arrest. "I was happy to witness a large crowd during our vigil. The media is my only channel to communicate to people that my son is innocent. And it makes me glad to see the media support we are getting here in India," Shashi said.
New York-based Anand, touted by US magazine Newsweek as the designer to watch out in 2007, was waiting for a funding of $10-15 million by Wallstreet March 20. But a fortnight prior to that police picked him up.
The bail amount for Anand has been priced at a whopping $2 million.
"We have all the evidence at hand to prove his innocence but only if we are given one chance. My son is being denied basic civil rights and that is highly cruel and inhuman on their (judiciary's) part," complained Shashi.
In case Anand is proven guilty, he could be jailed for more than one 'jail term' that amounts to over 25 years.
Anand, as Shashi fondly reminiscences, is a typical Indian boy bestowed with traditional values, thus making him a complete family person.
"Anand is proud to be an Indian and is a true cultural ambassador of the country."
"My son is a decent, respectable boy who has always been protective of my daughter and me. I refuse to believe any accusations of rape or molestation made against him," she added emphatically.
Shashi along with Anand's supporters will be organising yet another candle light vigil in Mumbai Jan 21 at the Gateway of India.
(Radhika Birani can be contacted at rbhirani@gmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )
New Delhi, Jan 16 (IANS) Shashi Abraham, the mother of US-based designer Anand Jon, is leaving no stone unturned to fight for justice for her son who was arrested eight months back on charges of rape and sexual harassment of 30 women in that country.
She and daughter Sanjana are on their second visit to India since Anand's arrest last year and are holding candle light vigils as well as seeking government intervention to free Anand, who Shashi claims is a victim of "professional rivalry".
"The charges against my son are an unfortunate consequence of professional rivalry and racial attack," Shashi told IANS.
"Not many designers make it big internationally. Seeing my son, especially a 'brown boy', score exceptional success was probably not acceptable by many people there who eventually conspired against my son."
Just last week they organised a candle light vigil at the India Gate in protest against the designer's arrest. "I was happy to witness a large crowd during our vigil. The media is my only channel to communicate to people that my son is innocent. And it makes me glad to see the media support we are getting here in India," Shashi said.
New York-based Anand, touted by US magazine Newsweek as the designer to watch out in 2007, was waiting for a funding of $10-15 million by Wallstreet March 20. But a fortnight prior to that police picked him up.
The bail amount for Anand has been priced at a whopping $2 million.
"We have all the evidence at hand to prove his innocence but only if we are given one chance. My son is being denied basic civil rights and that is highly cruel and inhuman on their (judiciary's) part," complained Shashi.
In case Anand is proven guilty, he could be jailed for more than one 'jail term' that amounts to over 25 years.
Anand, as Shashi fondly reminiscences, is a typical Indian boy bestowed with traditional values, thus making him a complete family person.
"Anand is proud to be an Indian and is a true cultural ambassador of the country."
"My son is a decent, respectable boy who has always been protective of my daughter and me. I refuse to believe any accusations of rape or molestation made against him," she added emphatically.
Shashi along with Anand's supporters will be organising yet another candle light vigil in Mumbai Jan 21 at the Gateway of India.
(Radhika Birani can be contacted at rbhirani@gmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )
Anand Jon's family claim he is framed
NDTV Correspondent
Friday, January 11, 2008 (New Delhi)
Friends and family of Indian designer Anand Jon in an attempt to save him say that competitors have conspired to malign him.
The Indian designer is accused of rape, 32 counts of them apart from sexual assault and lewd acts on a child. He's been locked up in a Los Angeles jail since March last year.
Friend and model Ella Charanin, is in India with a message that Anand Jon is a nice guy. Jon's family also insists he's been framed.
Ella said, ''I worked with him for a year and so I know. All the girls who were with him never said anything, so I know it isn't true.''
Jon's sister Sanjana has been crusading for him. She and Ella have met Overseas Minister Vyalar Ravi, but are not certain whether India would intervene in this matter.
Sanjana said, ''It is a conspiracy only after Wall Street funded about US$ 10-15 million, that's when the complaints started emerging. Tell me why wasn't it before that.''
All these issues will come up before the US courts soon when Jon undergoes trial.
(Appeared on NDTV.com)
Friday, January 11, 2008 (New Delhi)
Friends and family of Indian designer Anand Jon in an attempt to save him say that competitors have conspired to malign him.
The Indian designer is accused of rape, 32 counts of them apart from sexual assault and lewd acts on a child. He's been locked up in a Los Angeles jail since March last year.
Friend and model Ella Charanin, is in India with a message that Anand Jon is a nice guy. Jon's family also insists he's been framed.
Ella said, ''I worked with him for a year and so I know. All the girls who were with him never said anything, so I know it isn't true.''
Jon's sister Sanjana has been crusading for him. She and Ella have met Overseas Minister Vyalar Ravi, but are not certain whether India would intervene in this matter.
Sanjana said, ''It is a conspiracy only after Wall Street funded about US$ 10-15 million, that's when the complaints started emerging. Tell me why wasn't it before that.''
All these issues will come up before the US courts soon when Jon undergoes trial.
(Appeared on NDTV.com)
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Anand Jon’s sister seeks Centre’s help
NEW DELHI: Claiming that he was “innocent,” the sister of Indian designer Anand Jon, who is facing a slew of charges relating to sexual assault in the United States, has sought the Government’s help to get him out of jail.
Sanjana Jon met Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi here and sought his help to get Anand out of jail, claiming that he was innocent.
Mr. Ravi gave her a patient hearing and asked her to furnish details about the case and give a petition so that he could look into the matter.
“I have asked her to give me a petition from her mother which can be forwarded to the External Affairs Ministry as only it can take up the matter at the diplomatic level if needed,” Mr. Ravi told PTI.
Ms. Sanjana claimed that Anand was “being demonised” because of his success in the American fashion industry.
Anand is facing complaints of either rape or molestation from 30 women in several states of the U.S. He has been in jail in Los Angeles since last June. — PTI
Sanjana Jon met Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi here and sought his help to get Anand out of jail, claiming that he was innocent.
Mr. Ravi gave her a patient hearing and asked her to furnish details about the case and give a petition so that he could look into the matter.
“I have asked her to give me a petition from her mother which can be forwarded to the External Affairs Ministry as only it can take up the matter at the diplomatic level if needed,” Mr. Ravi told PTI.
Ms. Sanjana claimed that Anand was “being demonised” because of his success in the American fashion industry.
Anand is facing complaints of either rape or molestation from 30 women in several states of the U.S. He has been in jail in Los Angeles since last June. — PTI
Overseas minister bats for Anand Jon
NDTV Correspondent
Saturday, January 5, 2008 (New Delhi)
Can India intervene in the judicial process of another country, is a question many are asking.
The speculation follows Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi's statement on Friday, where he said he would persuade the external affairs ministry to take up the case of New York-based fashion designer Anand Jon.
Jon has been charged with committing multiple sexual offences.
Ravi said the number of complaints cropping up against Jon in New York and Florida seemed to suggest the designer was ''framed''.
When NDTV tried to speak to the minister, he was unavailable for comment.
Meanwhile, Jon's mother is in Delhi, hoping to ask External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to intervene on her son's behalf, but the Indian government is unlikely to agree.
This is not the first time Ravi has tried to help Jon. Last year, when Jon's family had approached the minister, he had asked Indian diplomats in the US to provide consular help to the fashion designer.
Anand Jon has been held in detention in Los Angeles since June 2007 after about 30 women in various American cities charged him with rape and molestation.
(Appeared in NDTV.com)
Saturday, January 5, 2008 (New Delhi)
Can India intervene in the judicial process of another country, is a question many are asking.
The speculation follows Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi's statement on Friday, where he said he would persuade the external affairs ministry to take up the case of New York-based fashion designer Anand Jon.
Jon has been charged with committing multiple sexual offences.
Ravi said the number of complaints cropping up against Jon in New York and Florida seemed to suggest the designer was ''framed''.
When NDTV tried to speak to the minister, he was unavailable for comment.
Meanwhile, Jon's mother is in Delhi, hoping to ask External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to intervene on her son's behalf, but the Indian government is unlikely to agree.
This is not the first time Ravi has tried to help Jon. Last year, when Jon's family had approached the minister, he had asked Indian diplomats in the US to provide consular help to the fashion designer.
Anand Jon has been held in detention in Los Angeles since June 2007 after about 30 women in various American cities charged him with rape and molestation.
(Appeared in NDTV.com)
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