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[justinm at ucr.edu]

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justin


2009-0514 - The Nation - Laos will not execute pregnant woman

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/05/14/regional/regional_30102670.php

Regional

Laos will not execute pregnant woman

Published on May 14, 2009

Laos will not execute Briton pregnant prisoner who would be on trial this week on a narcotic charge, Deputy Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said.

"Our constitution prohibits death penalty for any pregnant person," said Thongloun who is also the foreign minister.

Thongloun was in Thailand Tuesday and Thursday accompany a state visit by Lao President Choummaly Sayasone.

Samantha Orobator, 20, was detained in August after allegedly being caught with 680 grams of heroin at a Vientiane airport while leaving the country to Thailand.

Trading or trafficking more than half a kilogram of heroin would face death penalty in accordance with Lao narcotic and criminal law.

She reportedly became pregnant during detention in Phontong prison. Thongloun said the authorities are investigating the case to find out what happened with her.

Orobator has a chance to be transferred to United Kingdom as Laos and the UK signed a prisoner transfer agreement last week in London, he said.

However, she would not return to UK before her case was ruled by the Lao court, he said.

The minister said Orobator's case would be on trail this week but did not give exact date.

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May 14, 2009 05:21 pm (Thai local time)
www.nationmultimedia.com

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Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
3046 INTN
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu