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An update on Samantha Orobator, the pregnant 20-year old from South London who I wrote faces the death penalty in the Peoples’ Democratic Republic of Laos if convicted of drug smuggling.

The BBC now reports that;

A pregnant British woman accused of smuggling heroin has been found guilty in Laos and sentenced to life in jail.

Samantha Orobator, 20, from south London, was caught with 1.5lb (680g) of the drug at Wattay airport in the capital, Vientiane, last August.

She would have faced a mandatory death sentence, but the execution of pregnant prisoners is not allowed in Laos.

Her trial had been delayed while Laotian officials tried to find out how she became pregnant in prison.

The court took only three hours to reach its verdict, and during questioning by the prosecution and the three judges, Orobator admitted to carrying more than half a kilogram of heroin in an effort to try and take it out of the country to Australia.

Whilst I condemn drug use and drug dealers, the confession must be taken with a large pinch of salt and scepticism as Laos has a notorious legal system and it is not clear what deal was struck between the Authorities and Miss Orobator; Laos certainly wouldn’t want the bad press of a long court case, and there was the possibility on Ms Orobator’s side of execution after the birth of her child.

This is especially the case as the UK has recently signed a prisoner transfer agreement with Laos, which means Orobator could serve any potential sentence in a British jail. A quick court case means these arrangements will be made sooner. Once transferred to the UK, the High Court will be asked to set a minimum period that they would have to serve before being considered for parole.

Thailand and Laos are both known trouble-spots for drug dealers planting drugs on foreign tourists, and taking advantage of foolish young back-packers short of cash, and I tend to think one of these scenarios are highly likely.

I’ve never needed a reason not to visit Laos or Thailand: I can get sun and beaches without having to get paranoid about having drugs planted on me and facing the death sentence or life without trial or being arrested for insulting their King, thank you very much.

But unfortunately people do visit these illiberal, unjust and poorly governed TPC’s, and one poor such youngster - Miss Samantha Orobator, 20 - now faces the death penalty in the Peoples’ Democratic Republic of Laos if convicted of drug smuggling.

Sir Humphrey: East Yemen, isn’t that a democracy?
Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Office: Its full name is the Peoples’ Democratic Republic of East Yemen.
Sir Humphrey: Ah I see, so it’s a communist dictatorship.

Ms Orobator, from south London, was arrested at Wattay Airport in August last year accused of smuggling heroin into the country, the Foreign Office said. Orobator, who fell mysteriously pregnant in December while in prison, faces a hastily-arranged trial next week and if found guilty, a death sentence. The Laos court has made it impossible for any lawyer to prepare an adequate defence.

It’s utterly disgusting, and our government’s responce is weak. The exact figures aren’t available but we surely give £millions to Laos in aid. There are currently 47 on-going EC-funded projects in Laos with a value of more than 35 million Euros. Surely he who pays the piper should pick the tune?