Pregnant UK woman faces death by firing squad in heroin case

[Amby 490]

BANGKOK — The Laotian government on Monday insisted the trial of a pregnant British woman who faces possible death by firing squad for allegedly trafficking heroin will be conducted fairly.

That promise came despite the fact that Samantha Orobator, 20, has not been assigned a defense lawyer, raising concerns as to whether she will be able to properly defend herself, a human rights group said Monday.

Orobator has been in jail in the communist-ruled country since August, when she was accused of trying to smuggle 1.5 pounds of heroin in her luggage. Those caught with more than the statutory limit of 1.1 pounds face a mandatory death penalty.

"The trial is expected to be held this week but I don't know the exact dates," Laotian government spokesman Khenthong Nuanthasing said, adding it was up to the judge. "The trial will be carried out fairly."

Khenthong refused to comment on the charges against Orobator, her medical condition nor allegations that she was abused while in prison.

Anna Morris, a lawyer with the British-based human rights group Reprieve, said she was concerned that trial would not meet the judicial standards of most countries.

"She hasn't been appointed a lawyer yet and that has been our concern," Morris said. "We are concerned that any hearing may be quite quick in comparison to what will happen in other countries."

Morris, who arrived Sunday in Vientiane, the country's capital, said she had been granted permission to meet with Orobator on Tuesday. The lawyer said Orobator had earlier been told the trial could start Monday, but it was now unclear when the trial would begin.

Morris also said the group was worried about the detainee's health.

"We are concerned about the effect of the uncertainty on Sam's well-being ... given her age, her vulnerability, her pregnancy," Morris said. "We just seek clarity from the Lao government as soon as possible as to what exactly is going to happen so that we can advise her properly."

From her home in Dublin, Orobator's mother Jane Orobator told The Associated Press that she just wanted her daughter home.

"I'm terrified. I'm scared," she said in a telephone interview. "I'm just begging they should not do anything to her. They should just send her back to me."

A Reprieve statement said Orobator was five months pregnant, but because she had no access to counsel they could not confirm whether she was raped in the prison.

The circumstances of her pregnancy remain unclear and the group's statement could not be independently verified.

She had been in jail for months before Britain's government learned of the detention. British diplomats and doctors have since visited her, according to the British Foreign Office.

Laos is a one-party state and rights groups say the judicial system is beholden to the communist regime that has ruled since 1975.

The country lies in the opium-producing Golden Triangle bordering Myanmar and Laos. Although production of the narcotic has in the region fallen in recent years, it is still a major source of illicit drugs.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,518811,00.html

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Serves her right.

[AlHayatZween 2]

wait, i'm confused... was she preggo b/f she got locked up?

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I would guess that the sentence would be carried out after baby is born.

[fozzie 41]

Serves her right.

Ouch spooky!

While I tend to agree, if she hasn't been given an opportunity to defend herself then its just plain wrong. However if she is in fact guilty of said offense then yes, serves her right (but not that of her unborn child).

If you are determined to smuggle drugs, do some research on the possible penalties. If she had done just a little research she would have just had 1lb of heroin on her/in her. People know that the penalties are severe in these countries.

However, it has been known that the actual smugglers use an unwitting mule. She may not have even know it was in there. I always checked my luggage and pockets at several stages throughout any travel/border crossings in Asia. It does happen.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Serves her right.

Ouch spooky!

While I tend to agree, if she hasn't been given an opportunity to defend herself then its just plain wrong. However if she is in fact guilty of said offense then yes, serves her right (but not that of her unborn child).

If you are determined to smuggle drugs, do some research on the possible penalties. If she had done just a little research she would have just had 1lb of heroin on her/in her. People know that the penalties are severe in these countries.

However, it has been known that the actual smugglers use an unwitting mule. She may not have even know it was in there. I always checked my luggage and pockets at several stages throughout any travel/border crossings in Asia. It does happen.

I was just being an a$$, I didn't read all of it.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I don't think they usually impose the DP on westerners in these types of cases. Most of the time it gets commuted to life which later ends up being commuted to 3 years once all the media attention has gone away.

[fozzie 41]

I don't think they usually impose the DP on westerners in these types of cases. Most of the time it gets commuted to life which later ends up being commuted to 3 years once all the media attention has gone away.

Try telling that to Warren Fellows. 12 years in the Bangkok Hilton!

granted it was a life sentence that was communted but still, 12 years in those kind of prisons!

Edited May 4, 2009 by fozzie

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

He didn't get executed. Nor did he spend life in jail.

I don't think they usually impose the DP on westerners in these types of cases. Most of the time it gets commuted to life which later ends up being commuted to 3 years once all the media attention has gone away.

Try telling that to Warren Fellows. 12 years in the Bangkok Hilton!

granted it was a life sentence that was communted but still, 12 years in those kind of prisons!

As I say - they'll prosecute westerners who are involved in drug trafficking, but they'll rarely execute. Sentences are usually commuted due to diplomatic pressure from the defendants govt.

Edited May 4, 2009 by Private Pike