Pregnant drug smuggling suspect faces Firing Squad

marcsignal

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8031587.stm

I wonder what's going to happen about this ?? Hard to know the exact circumstances, as the drugs may have been planted on her.
The last execution for a similar offence in Laos took place in 1989, so it's anyones guess if she'll be put against the wall. Her Mother lives here afaik, and is a Mature Student in Trinity College.

Prosecutors say Samantha Orobator, 20, of London, was in possession of 1.5lb (680g) of heroin when she was arrested at Wattay airport, Laos, last August.

Her trial has been brought forward and is due to start this week.

Legal charity Reprieve said its lawyer, Anna Morris, has been given permission to see Miss Orabator on Tuesday.

Miss Orobator has been held at Phonthong prison in the east Asian country since last August.

She became pregnant in the prison in December and is due to give birth in September, it is claimed.

Reprieve says authorities in Laos have brought the trial forward a year to avoid her having proper legal representation.

The charity says the decision to reschedule the trial was only taken after arrangements were made for her to see a lawyer for the first time.


FROM BBC RADIO 5 LIVE

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Laotian government spokesman Khenthong Nuanthasing insisted that "the trial will be carried out fairly".

He said it is expected to be held this week but was unable to confirm a date.

Ms Morris flew into the country on Sunday after permission was granted to meet Miss Orobator on Tuesday.

Ms Morris told the BBC: "Things are moving quickly. We found out only this morning that the trial wasn't going to take place today [Monday], but we still have no more information as to when it will take place.

"We are of course concerned, given that the prison conditions are well documented, we are concerned for her welfare, and we are concerned for the sort of nutrition she's receiving, but we'll know more once we've seen her.


She is five months pregnant, without ever having met a lawyer, facing a show trial for her life
Clive Stafford Smith

"But at this point we can certainly say that we're very concerned."

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.

Reprieve director Clive Stafford Smith said of the pregnant Briton: "There can hardly be a circumstance where scheduling a capital trial is less appropriate.

"She is five months pregnant, without ever having met a lawyer, facing a show trial for her life."

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said British Embassy officials, including the Ambassador, have visited Miss Orobator a total of six times since her arrest.

Jane Orobator
Jane Orobator says she is scared about her daughter's situation

British officials said these visits had been limited to a period of about 20 minutes once a month.

There is no British Embassy in Laos and the nearest is in the Thai capital, Bangkok. The Foreign Office only learned of her arrest when Australian authorities passed on information from another prison inmate.

The FCO reiterated the government's opposition to the death penalty "in all circumstances".

An FCO spokesman said: "In cases where a British national faces charges that carry the death penalty or has been sentenced to death, we make representations at whatever stage and level is deemed appropriate.

"We take every opportunity to make representations to the Lao authorities about our opposition to the death penalty."

'So scared'

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.

Her mother Jane Orobator said she was "so scared" about her daughter's situation.

"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.

Mrs Orobator last heard from her daughter in July, when she was on holiday in Holland.

javaboy

Bloody culchies!

dr.bollocko

She's my heroine.




I'll delete at least three crap pun replies to threads tomorrow in atonement for this post.

My name is URL

Why waste a whole squad's ammo when 1 bullet will do?

walshb

The mother lives in Castleknock. Moved here from Britain 8 years ago. Lived in Britain for four years and then moved here. She's of African origin!

Saw her wailing in the news earlier. OTT if you sk me!

Sharpshooter

dr.bollocko wrote: »

She's my heroine.




I'll delete at least three crap pun replies to threads tomorrow in atonement for this post.

You'll have great crack doing that.

Kristopherus

We're getting nothing but sob stories from all the western tv networks. It was the main headline on Sky News all day on Saturday with an extended interview with someone in London who was trying to arrange a defence for her. She was arrested last August, so why all the hullabuloo about her all of a sudden. Strikes me that if we had a similar system here ,we would be rid of a lot of scum.

Aidric

walshb wrote: »

The mother lives in Castleknock. Moved here from Britain 8 years ago. Lived in Britain for four years and then moved here. She's of African origin!

Saw her wailing in the news earlier. OTT if you sk me!

Ya I thought that as well. It's unlikely she'll be executed.

arybvtcw0eolkf

As an opponent of capital punishment I think we should send over someone to make representations on her behalf, but as for her smuggling and the type of prison she's liable to spend the rest of her life in should we/she success in having her punishment commuted to life in prison - well I couldn't give a rats arse tbh.

.

Kristopherus

Kristopherus wrote: »

She was arrested last August, so why all the hullabuloo about her all of a sudden. .

I think because they've suddenly brought her trial forward and this time she's pregnant?

enry

whats the story with her being pregnant she must be about to pop if she has been in prison since last august or did she get pregnant in prison?

Snowie

silly girl....

FernandoTorres

Apparently she was raped in prison, hence the pregnancy

Red Hand

Do they allow people to give birth before capital punishment?

My name is URL

Funny thing about Laos (a communist country) is that it's been payed by the US to wage a war on drugs

http://www.wrm.org.uy/bulletin/82/Laos.html

Podge2k7

My name is URL wrote: »

Why waste a whole squad's ammo when 1 bullet will do?

Lol, good point.

Terry

Article wrote:

Prosecutors say Samantha Orobator, 20, of London, was in possession of 1.5lb (680g) of heroin when she was arrested at Wattay airport, Laos, last August.

In context; She's the type of person who is keeping the gang wars going here.
People like her are the ones who are feeding the illegal drug trade and are partially responsible for the growing number of murders in this country.
She can rot in that prison for all I care.

As for her child, hopefully its grandmother brings it up with a respect for the law.

Once again, this parasite can rot in hell for all I care.
If it was my own mother, I'd say the same thing.
Pedallers of death deserve no sympathy.

enry

if thats the case maybe she has paid more then enough already for the crime she allegedly committed

O'Coonassa

walshb wrote: »

She's of African origin!

NEWSFLASH!! we all are.

nomorebadtown

Kristopherus wrote: »

Strikes me that if we had a similar system here ,we would be rid of a lot of scum.

Yeah, cause it works real well in Laos. The place is awash with drugs of every description. Fantastic.

O'Coonassa

She was raped in prison that's why she's pregnant, yes?

partyatmygaff

seeing as she hasnt been tried yet, whos to say nobody put the gear on her?

pebbles21

walshb wrote: »

The mother lives in Castleknock. Moved here from Britain 8 years ago. Lived in Britain for four years and then moved here. She's of African origin!

Saw her wailing in the news earlier. OTT if you sk me!

She could have gave her gaff a quick shifty ,state of the place ffs

Elliemental

Bloody hell, whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?
No matter what you've done, or what you're accused of, you don't deserve to be raped in jail, and the least you're entitled too is a defense lawyer, and a fair trial.

It seems a dim hope that this poor sod will get either. Add to that, the whole country seems happy to let her rot!

enry

Elliemental wrote: »

Bloody hell, whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?
No matter what you've done, or what you're accused of, you don't deserve to be raped in jail, and the least you're entitled too is a defense lawyer, and a fair trial.

It seems a dim hope that this poor sod will get either. Add to that, the whole country seems happy to let her rot!

your dead right.

Tipsy Mac

partyatmygaff wrote: »

seeing as she hasnt been tried yet, whos to say nobody put the gear on her?

Unlikely, why would someone put perfectly good drugs on her without her knowing?

Armin_Tamzarian

walshb wrote: »

The mother lives in Castleknock. Moved here from Britain 8 years ago. Lived in Britain for four years and then moved here. She's of African origin!

Saw her wailing in the news earlier. OTT if you sk me!

OTT?

To be fair, her daughter (and possibly her grandchild) are facing death by firing squad.

What's she gonna say "meh, this sucks"?

javaboy

Tipsy Mac wrote: »

Unlikely, why would someone put perfectly good drugs on her without her knowing?

Put them on her without her knowledge and she won't act suspiciously going through security/customs. Then if she gets through ok, they mug her and take the drugs back again.

Pherekydes

She was caught smuggling 680g of the stuff. The limit is 500g. Funny old country, Laos. They'll rape you and shoot you for being 180g over the allowance. Why can't she just pay the excess?

By the way, this is a loathsome thread, with loathsome opinions. But you're entitled to them. No one's going to shoot you. Unless Laos takes us over.

Armin_Tamzarian

Tipsy Mac wrote: »

Unlikely, why would someone put perfectly good drugs on her without her knowing?

It's a well established drug trafficking technique.
You send two mules, one with the main load and one with the decoy.

The decoy is a patsy who will be informed on to customs.
Customs will then be focused on arresting this person while the real smuggler slips through.

stepbar

The_Coon wrote: »

It's a well established drug trafficking technique.
You send two mules, one with the main load and one with the decoy.

The decoy is a patsy who will be informed on to customs.
Customs will then be focused on arresting this person while the real smuggler slips through.

More fool to either who perform the transaction.

Tom65

3 pages and no one pointed out she hasn't actually been convicted of anything yet.


Oh, hello internet!



As Clive Stafford Smith said: "There can hardly be a circumstance where scheduling a capital trial is less appropriate.
"She is five months pregnant, without ever having met a lawyer, facing a show trial for her life."

Capt'n Midnight

My name is URL wrote: »

Why waste a whole squad's ammo when 1 bullet will do?

In some countries there is a random blank bullet so the squad can pretend they didn't actually fire the shot that killed. Isn't the recoil different ?

There have been cases (not sure how true) where all the squad missed in the execution of a woman, but the story goes they reloaded and fired again.

stepbar

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

In some countries there is a random blank bullet so the squad can pretend they didn't actually fire the shot that killed. Isn't the recoil different ?

There have been cases (not sure how true) where all the squad missed in the execution of a woman, but the story goes they reloaded and fired again.

Sounds like something from the 1916 rising.

Capt'n Midnight

Tom65 wrote:

Oh, hello internet!

We could offer Laois back it's .la domain name.

http://www.dmnews.com/Registrar-Offers-la-Web-Address/article/81144/

LA Names Corp., Guernsey, UK, is the operator of .la, working with Dublin, Ireland-based domain name registrar Afilias Ltd. on the infrastructure and technology.

tallaght01

I wonder if they'll go after the guy who raped her, with such vigour?

Elliemental

Tom65 wrote: »

3 pages and no one pointed out she hasn't actually been convicted of anything yet.


Oh, hello internet!

Actually, I did point this out in an earlier post, by asking what happened to innocent until proven guilty. Another member quoted me and said you're dead right. So actually, you're about the third person to say she's not been convicted of anything.

Sorry for the pedantry, i just felt you were being unfair.

Holsten

I'm 100% for the Death Penalty, but not for drug smuggling.

Not a clever girl carrying 500g of heroin though.

homme d'affaire

Elliemental wrote: »

Bloody hell, whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?

No such thing, it's PRESUMED innocent until proven guilty.

If I go out and kill someone, and have to wait 6 months for trial, I'm not exactly "innocent" during those 6 months before conviction now am I?

bbc news wrote:

She had been on holiday in Thailand and the Netherlands before travelling to Laos.

Says it all really. I know she hasn't been proven guilty (yet), but I've a fairly good idea what the outcome of the case will be.

The_Minister

My name is URL wrote: »

Why waste a whole squad's ammo when 1 bullet will do?

Why use a bullet when a mallet will do?

Save the environment - support unleaded executions.

The_Minister

Holsten wrote: »

Not a clever girl carrying 500g of heroin though.

680g actually, which is a fair amount.

hopalong85

homme d'affaire wrote: »

No such thing, it's PRESUMED innocent until proven guilty.

If I go out and kill someone, and have to wait 6 months for trial, I'm not exactly "innocent" during those 6 months before conviction now am I?



Says it all really. I know she hasn't been proven guilty (yet), but I've a fairly good idea what the outcome of the case will be.

says nothing whatsoever really.

Mal-Adjusted

My name is URL wrote: »

Why waste a whole squad's ammo when 1 bullet will do?

there is only one bullet. the rest are blanks. it's so the firing squad don't know which of them killed the person.

if she did it, she deserves what she gets, simple as that. if she didn't, then she should get off...the world of course, isn't as black & white as that i'm afraid

Guy:Incognito

bluewolf wrote: »

I think because they've suddenly brought her trial forward and this time she's pregnant?

Did someone say sympathy pregnancy?



Maybe I'm just a cynical old fool?


**** her.

She seems awfull unfortunate what with all these bad people planting drugs on her and raping her.

Elliemental wrote: »

Bloody hell, whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? !

Theres a differnce between the police havvign an idea youve done somethign then gathering evidence and being found in possention of a pound and a half of Heroin. Fairly open and shut case.

"whats that in your pocket? "pound and a half of heroin" . Guilty.

Tom65

Elliemental wrote: »

Actually, I did point this out in an earlier post, by asking what happened to innocent until proven guilty. Another member quoted me and said you're dead right. So actually, you're about the third person to say she's not been convicted of anything.

Sorry for the pedantry, i just felt you were being unfair.

I apologise. I did look through and didn't see your post.

seanybiker

she broke the law. Tough titty to her that they use the death penalty over there. Kneecap her then a nice little headshot to finish her off.

_Whimsical_

It's very highly unlikely that she will face the death penalty. The last execution that occured in Laos happened in 1989.

From Amnesty USA:

As of 2007, both Amnesty International and FIDH were pleased to publicly categorize the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos) as abolitionist in practice. In a recent letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs the organizations welcomed the absence of executions in Laos since 1989, but pressed the government to go a step further by formalising the current de facto moratorium
Source : http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGASA260012008

Whatever she has done or not done she's entitled to a fair trial and to be kept in safe custody. The prison she is in at present is notorious for abuse of inmates. According to an amnesty spokesperson on TV tonight it would not be the first time someone was raped and made pregnant while in custody there.

zootroid

Death by firing squad?

Laosy

The_Minister

seanybiker wrote: »

she broke the law. Tough titty to her that they use the death penalty over there. Kneecap her then a nice little headshot to finish her off.

*blinks*

What about the small matter of the trial?

Elliemental

homme d'affaire wrote: »

No such thing, it's PRESUMED innocent until proven guilty.

If I go out and kill someone, and have to wait 6 months for trial, I'm not exactly "innocent" during those 6 months before conviction now am I?



Says it all really. I know she hasn't been proven guilty (yet), but I've a fairly good idea what the outcome of the case will be.

Jesus H. And I thought i had the gift for pedantry.
Look, this case is hardly as straight forward as the example you gave. We simply don't know all the facts bout this poor sap's case. And IMO, it stinks.
The rest of my post still stands. If you went out and shot someone, you'd still be entitled to a legal representation, a fair trial, and not have to worry about being raped!

seanybiker

The_Minister wrote: »

*blinks*

What about the small matter of the trial?

Ah dont mind that. Ill be bored by the time its finished.