Pregnant Briton receives life sentence in Laos
Samantha Orobator went on trial today
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Wednesday, 03, Jun 2009 07:11
A pregnant Britain accused of smuggling 680g of heroin out of Laos has been found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.
Samantha Orobator, 20, from south London, was placed in jail back in August and her continual detention had drawn widespread criticism after details of her imprisonment were released.
The charity Reprieve brought her case to light last month when it was claimed she had been refused legal aid and could face the death penalty if found guilty.
Today she appeared before a Laos court and reports suggest she was sentenced to life behind bars.
Ms Orobator was accused of trying to smuggle drugs on to a plane for Thailand last year, with the total amount found exceeding the usual requirements for a suspect to receive the death penalty.
However, last month reports suggested the 20-year-old would not be executed due to her pregnancy, which itself remains a complicated issue with conflicting reports over the father of the unborn child.
Laotian authorities previously said her trial would not begin until the paternity of the child was established. Samantha's mother has already confirmed her daughter was not raped by guards at the all-female prison.