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Pregnant Briton sentenced to life Pregnant Briton sentenced to life
(40 minutes later)
A pregnant British woman accused of smuggling heroin has been found guilty in Laos and sentenced to life in jail.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.Samantha Orobator, 20, from south London, was caught with 1.5lb (680g) of the drug at Wattay airport in the capital, Vientiane, last August.
Her trial had been delayed while Laotian officials tried to find out how she became pregnant in prison.Her trial had been delayed while Laotian officials tried to find out how she became pregnant in prison.
She would have faced a mandatory death sentence, but the execution of pregnant prisoners is not allowed in Laos.She would have faced a mandatory death sentence, but the execution of pregnant prisoners is not allowed in Laos.
Pregnant in prisonPregnant 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.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.
Orobator's mother was in court. She did not say anything; nor did Orobator as she was taken back to prison. British officials have applied to see her to ask what she wants to do next. Orobator's mother was in court. She did not say anything; nor did Orobator as she was taken back to prison.
Daniel Painter, from the British Embassy in Thailand, attended the trial. He was asked if the proceedings had been fair. Ronke Oseni, a friend of Orobator's, said she could hardly imagine what her friend was going through.
Transferred prisoners are not able to appeal through British courtsTransferred prisoners are not able to appeal through British courts
She told the BBC: "[It's] a possibility that she may come to serve her sentence here, but if that doesn't take place... I mean, life in Laos, and living in those conditions for the rest of your life..."
Daniel Painter, from the British Embassy in Thailand, attended the trial. He was asked if the proceedings had been fair.
He told the BBC: ''We don't comment or interfere in the judicial proceedings of other countries. If Samantha has concerns about fair trial issues then we can take those up with the Laos government.''He told the BBC: ''We don't comment or interfere in the judicial proceedings of other countries. If Samantha has concerns about fair trial issues then we can take those up with the Laos government.''
The UK has recently signed a prisoner transfer agreement with Laos, which means Orobator could serve any potential sentence in a British jail. The UK has recently signed a prisoner transfer agreement with Laos, which means Orobator could serve any potential sentence in a British jail. British officials have applied to see her to ask what she wants to do next.
She has 21 days to appeal against the sentence. If she applies for a transfer, she may see out much if not all of her sentence in the UK.She has 21 days to appeal against the sentence. If she applies for a transfer, she may see out much if not all of her sentence in the UK.
'Up to her'
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said that British authorities would enforce any sentence imposed by a foreign court, although British release arrangements would be applied.The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said that British authorities would enforce any sentence imposed by a foreign court, although British release arrangements would be applied.
Transferred prisoners are not able to appeal through British courts.Transferred prisoners are not able to appeal through British courts.
An FCO spokesman said officials would soon be in touch with her to discuss what she wants to do next.An FCO spokesman said officials would soon be in touch with her to discuss what she wants to do next.
The spokesman told the BBC: "We will be discussing with Samantha if she wants to apply for a transfer. There is a prisoner transfer agreement; it will be up to her."The spokesman told the BBC: "We will be discussing with Samantha if she wants to apply for a transfer. There is a prisoner transfer agreement; it will be up to her."
Above all we're concerned about her health and the health of her un-born child ReprieveAbove all we're concerned about her health and the health of her un-born child Reprieve
He said he was unable to say whether Orobator would be transferred back to the UK before the start of the third trimester of her pregnancy on 6 June - as has been called for by British human rights charity Reprieve.He said he was unable to say whether Orobator would be transferred back to the UK before the start of the third trimester of her pregnancy on 6 June - as has been called for by British human rights charity Reprieve.
Orobator has been held for nine months in Phongthong prison, where she reportedly became pregnant in December.Orobator has been held for nine months in Phongthong prison, where she reportedly became pregnant in December.
Reprieve has called for her to be returned to the UK before the final stages of her pregnancy.Reprieve has called for her to be returned to the UK before the final stages of her pregnancy.
In response to the verdict, a Reprieve spokeswoman told the BBC: "We're relieved that she's had her trial and we are keen that the British government brings her home to the UK.In response to the verdict, a Reprieve spokeswoman told the BBC: "We're relieved that she's had her trial and we are keen that the British government brings her home to the UK.
"Above all we're concerned about her health and the health of her unborn child.""Above all we're concerned about her health and the health of her unborn child."
The spokeswoman added that she hoped the transfer would happen in about two weeks.The spokeswoman added that she hoped the transfer would happen in about two weeks.
"There's no real reason for delay," she said."There's no real reason for delay," she said.