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WORLD: Prisoners quizzed over pregnancy of British woman held in Laos jail
Andrew Drummond22 May 2009
Prisoners in a notorious jail in Laos are to be quizzed over their relationship with a pregnant British woman accused of drug smuggling as it emerged that a fellow British prisoner could be the father.
The trial of Samantha Orobator, from south London, will be delayed until the father is identified, it emerged today.
Orobator denied this week, via her mother Jane Orobator, that she was raped or had sex with a prison guard. But Lao authorities said they would investigate her pregnancy, claiming she had lied to them about it.
And they will be quizzing other prisoners, including one Briton serving a life sentence for drugs trafficking.
Lao officials claim there is no association between male and female prisoners at Phongthong Prison in Laos. But a flimsy mesh is all that separates the woman from the men in the “medieval” jail, where stocks are still used as a punishment.
Police Lt.Col. Khamphonh Sihaphancha, drug control department director of the Ministry of Public Security, said: “Everything will be postponed until everything is made clear. We will solve this case as soon as possible.”
He claimed that 20-year-old Orobator had lied to the authorities by saying she was sick and pregnant by a boyfriend in England last September.
When authorities took for her checks in March she was found to be pregnant; on April 4th was found to be 17 weeks pregnant.
Ms Orobator, 20, from Camberwell, was arrested at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane on August 5, 2008, on her way to Sydney , Australia, allegedly with 680 grammes of heroin, contained in 68 capsules, hidden in different parts of her body.
The “prime suspect” in the hunt for the child's father is a Briton, John Albert Watson, 47, from Halifax, West Yorkshire, serving a life sentence for trafficking in methamphetamines.
John Watson is reported by other inmates as being the prisoner closest to Samantha after she was admitted to the prison last August.
Our challenge is to continue our search into the matter,” Lt. Col. Khamphonh said.
The Evening Standard has spoken exclusively to John Watson in Phonthong Prison. He has categorically denied the charge. “It's impossible. How could I get to her. It must be an immaculate conception,” he said.
He said he could not understand an alleged statement by his mother back home that she was looking forward to being a grand-mother again.
John Watson, has two children by a previous girlfriend. But they have been estranged since his arrest nearly four years ago, also at Wattay airport.
“Our challenge is to continue our search into the matter,” Lt. Col. Khamphonh said.
Laos authorities appear to have not totally ruled out the fact that she could have impregnated herself with another man's sperm. She had had a syringe amongst her personal possessions.
When Laos authorities carry out investigations in Phonthong Prison, they usually get results. But in any event if they do not get a confession they will probably hold her in Laos until they get an answer, even though the authorities have agreed to send he back to Britain to serve her sentence if convicted, which appears to be a foregone conclusion.
Once the baby is born they can just conduct tests. For the father they believe is captive.
Reader views (17)
has anybody thought about these peoples feelings they may of made the choice to do this but have you thought what might have put them in that situation,people are always saying dont people deserve a second chance in life were as sam is with a child as for the childs father who he may be deserves a second chance . People are saying if she had made it through with drugs what would become of our children,but yet they keep letting these sex offenders back out to offend again they always get more than 1 chance
- Jo, yorkshire, 14/10/2009 13:08
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No mercy for drug pushers, they are all murderers and should face the death penalty, full stop.
- William Swithin, expat/thailand, 14/10/2009 12:08
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23rd Dec 2000, while working as Security Managers in communist Laos, my husband Kerry was abducted by secret police in defiance of International law. Taken to Phonthong Prison, he endured brutal interrogations. I was torn from our 2 kids during an attempted Embassy evacuation at the Lao-Thai border, I was arbitrarily detained and secreted off to that same filthy prison. I had no idea what had become of my children or my husband. We endured mock executions, torture, and arbitrary detention. We were hostages of the State along with scores of political prisoners and forgotten freedom fighters of the secret war. We were lucky our Government fought to secure our freedom. Nothing is ever so black and white.
- Kay Danes, Australia, 14/10/2009 12:08
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My heart goes out to this girl. Whatever mistakes she may or may NOT have made - and let's remember that in civilised countries we are all INNOCENT until proved otherwise - there is a baby to consider here. My prayers for a speedy and compassionate resolution to this tragic dilemma.
- Marianne, SW France/London, 14/10/2009 12:08
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Why is this drug peddling scum being sent back to Britain to serve her sentence? If she is preganant, she'll be released in no time once the human rights nutters jump on the bandwagon.
She did the crime in Laos, that is where she should stay, pregnant or not.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 14/10/2009 12:08
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I am from Laos and know how notorious the prison life is there. My father spent 12 years in prison after the Vietnam ended. Id she did the crime, she should do the time. The Laotians gov't will not look too kindly to this. I personal feel that she will not get a fair trial or fairly outcomes. Laotian officials "might" investigate or look into the matter, this is all lip service. She is as good as trialed and convicted.
- sam, Tampa Florida, USA, 14/10/2009 12:08
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She did'nt learn a lot while over in Ulster did she.?
- David., Chertsey.UK., 14/10/2009 12:08
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Great, you don't even know the circumstances of her crime, and you are wishing death to her. A fair trial, with a lawyer and evidence would be nice, but that's not going to happen here. Its so interesting how people are willing to see others put to death without proper representation... barbaric.
- Dave, dundalk, 14/10/2009 12:08
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This woman is not British, she is from somewhere in Africa and resides in Britain. Please report the truth and not the same old fabricated PC jargon.
- Brandon Thomas, SW7, London UK, 14/10/2009 12:08
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She was caught trying to smuggle drugs. Don't forget the misery and outcome those drugs could cause before calling her vulnerable. Of course she should have a fair trial but to be burden on the taxpayers for her deed?
- K, london, 14/10/2009 12:08
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People smuggle drugs abroad because they think they will 1, make more money and 2, that it will be easier to get away with it. she commited the crime in laos, she should certainly face the punishment, whatever that might be, in laos.
- Barry, woking, surrey, UK, 14/10/2009 12:08
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why didn't they come out with this information when they first found out she was pregnant. there was no mention of a syringe when they first found out she was pregnant. this whole thing is going to end in tradegy if we don't keep the pressure up. i agree immigration needs to be curbed but if an english family move out to australia with an 8 year old daughter and gets an australian passport a couple of years later by the time she is 20 she is the australian governments responsibilty end of story.
- Brenton Etienne, huntingdon, 14/10/2009 12:08
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Want to avoid the death penalty? Get yourself knocked up girl. Another broken home in the making, a child to be abused and not loved. The British public will eventually have to pick up the pieces because of this stupid girls actions.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 14/10/2009 12:08
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Ah, Frank, me old mucker. I've sparred on these boards with you before, but in this case I'm in complete agreement about others having to pick up the pieces. Except, worringly, for me, her mother who is studying in Dublin wants to move the whole family HERE. To that, I have to say, NO THANKS! I think our own govt has inflicted enough suffering on the Irish taxpayer.
- Dr. J. Melvin, Dalkey, Co. Dublin, 14/10/2009 12:08
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Let us not forget what would have happened to our children if she had succeeded in this trafficking!
- Susan Evans, England South Croydon, 14/10/2009 12:08
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Mrs Danes, you and your husband weren't political prisoners; Samantha Orobator is not a political prisoner. How dare you compare the plight of political prisoners in Laos - notably the Hmong people - to greedy Western smugglers?
- Mel, London, 14/10/2009 12:08
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Why will she probably serve her sentence back here, I thought we were short of prison places.
If people think they can smuggle drugs abroad, and not have to face an awfull foreign prison it won't deter them much will it.
- P Staker, London, 14/10/2009 12:08
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