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| Pregnant Laos inmate to get visit | Pregnant Laos inmate to get visit |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A pregnant Briton facing a possible death sentence in Laos if convicted of drug smuggling is expected to meet a human rights lawyer later. | A pregnant Briton facing a possible death sentence in Laos if convicted of drug smuggling is expected to meet a human rights lawyer later. |
| Legal charity Reprieve said its lawyer had been given permission to visit Samantha Orabator, 20, of south London. | Legal charity Reprieve said its lawyer had been given permission to visit Samantha Orabator, 20, of south London. |
| Miss Orabator is due to go on trial in the south-east Asian country this week without a defence team. | Miss Orabator is due to go on trial in the south-east Asian country this week without a defence team. |
| Prosecutors say she was in possession of 1.5lb (680g) of heroin when she was arrested at Wattay airport last August. | Prosecutors say she was in possession of 1.5lb (680g) of heroin when she was arrested at Wattay airport last August. |
| In Laos, anyone caught with more than 1lb (500g) of heroin faces a mandatory death sentence. | In Laos, anyone caught with more than 1lb (500g) of heroin faces a mandatory death sentence. |
| At least 39 people have been sentenced to death in Laos since 2003. | At least 39 people have been sentenced to death in Laos since 2003. |
| Miss Orobator has been held at Phonthong prison, where it is claimed she became pregnant in December. | Miss Orobator has been held at Phonthong prison, where it is claimed she became pregnant in December. |
| Reprieve says the authorities in Laos have brought her trial forward a year to avoid her having proper legal representation. | Reprieve says the authorities in Laos have brought her trial forward a year to avoid her having proper legal representation. |
| Reprieve lawyer Anna Morris said she was concerned that Miss Orobator had not been assigned a defence lawyer. | Reprieve lawyer Anna Morris said she was concerned that Miss Orobator had not been assigned a defence lawyer. |
| "We are concerned that any hearing may be quite quick in comparison to what will happen in other countries," she said. | "We are concerned that any hearing may be quite quick in comparison to what will happen in other countries," she said. |
| "Things are moving quickly. We found out only this morning [Monday] that the trial wasn't going to take place today, but we still have no more information as to when it will take place." | "Things are moving quickly. We found out only this morning [Monday] that the trial wasn't going to take place today, but we still have no more information as to when it will take place." |
| Mother's appeal | Mother's appeal |
| But Laotian government spokesman Khenthong Nuanthasing insisted the trial would be carried out fairly. | But Laotian government spokesman Khenthong Nuanthasing insisted the trial would be carried out fairly. |
| He said it was expected to be held this week but was unable to confirm a date. | He said it was expected to be held this week but was unable to confirm a date. |
| There is no British embassy in Laos, but the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said the British vice-consul from Bangkok would also be meeting Miss Orobator later. | There is no British embassy in Laos, but the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said the British vice-consul from Bangkok would also be meeting Miss Orobator later. |
| Jane Orobator has appealed for her daughter's release | Jane Orobator has appealed for her daughter's release |
| A spokeswoman for the FCO said: "He will be seeing her [on Tuesday] to provide consular assistance. | A spokeswoman for the FCO said: "He will be seeing her [on Tuesday] to provide consular assistance. |
| "It will be in the way we would normally give it - to see about her welfare and well-being and to work towards ensuring she has proper legal advice and proper medical care." | "It will be in the way we would normally give it - to see about her welfare and well-being and to work towards ensuring she has proper legal advice and proper medical care." |
| The FCO reiterated the government's opposition to the death penalty "in all circumstances" and said it took "every opportunity to make representations to the Lao authorities about our opposition to the death penalty". | The FCO reiterated the government's opposition to the death penalty "in all circumstances" and said it took "every opportunity to make representations to the Lao authorities about our opposition to the death penalty". |
| Miss Orobator was born in Nigeria and lived in south London from the age of eight. Her father lives in Nigeria and her mother and three sisters live in the Irish Republic. | Miss Orobator was born in Nigeria and lived in south London from the age of eight. Her father lives in Nigeria and her mother and three sisters live in the Irish Republic. |
| She had been on holiday in Thailand and the Netherlands before travelling to Laos. | She had been on holiday in Thailand and the Netherlands before travelling to Laos. |
| Her mother Jane Orobator said: "I'm just appealing to the British government, to the Laos authorities, to just please release her. They should just bring her back to me." | Her mother Jane Orobator said: "I'm just appealing to the British government, to the Laos authorities, to just please release her. They should just bring her back to me." |
| Mrs Orobator added that she has no idea why her daughter was in Laos and had last heard from her in July, when she was in the Netherlands. | Mrs Orobator added that she has no idea why her daughter was in Laos and had last heard from her in July, when she was in the Netherlands. |