Tonight:
5°c
WORLD: Pregnant Londoner jailed in Laos for smuggling heroin flying back to UK
6 Aug 2009
- Brazil: British law graduates ‘will admit lying over robbery’
- Iraq: Security firm boss 'waged crusade to murder Muslims'
- Brazil: 1,500 tonnes of hazardous waste returned to the UK
- America: Clinton's North Korea mission wasn't an olive branch says Obama
- Peru: Gun raid on cruise tourists
- Greece: Greek balls of fire for Briton
A pregnant British woman jailed in Laos for trafficking heroin was on her way back to the UK today.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said Samantha Orobator boarded a plane to London's Heathrow from the capital Vientiane this afternoon.
Orobator, 20, from south London, is serving a life sentence after admitting drug smuggling.
She would have faced the death penalty had she not been pregnant.
Foreign Office Minister Chris Bryant said: "This is excellent news.
"Of course, we do not condone any crimes involving illegal drugs. We work around the world to combat the use of illegal drugs.
"I spend much of my time warning British tourists of the dangers of using drugs in countries such as Laos, which have heavy penalties for these crimes. Samantha will serve her term in a British penal establishment.
"But I saw for myself Samantha's advanced state of pregnancy when I visited her in prison last week.
"The transfer means that Samantha will give birth in the UK, close to her relatives and under UK medical care. This is clearly the best outcome for all - not least her unborn child."
The Lao government agreed she could return to the UK to serve the rest of her prison sentence.
This came in time for the birth of her child which is due next month.
Her mother, Jane Orobator, said: "I just want her to come back to the UK, that is my first desire. One step at a time, I just want her to have her baby here."
Laos foreign ministry spokesman Khenthong Nuanthasing said Orobator's return was a humanitarian gesture which took her pregnancy into account.
He added: "To my understanding, she is fine. The doctor keeps an eye on her. Both the officials from the UK and from Laos have taken care of her, particularly her health."
Clive Stafford-Smith, director of Reprieve, said she should be allowed access to independent lawyers on her return.
He added: "She needs to be sent to hospital, not prison. No-one can think the Laos conviction is valid and for Britain to enforce that is to enforce something surely everyone in the British Government deplores."
Orobator was jailed last August after she was caught with 1.5lb (680g) of heroin at Vientiane airport on her way to Australia.
Her local MP, Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman, said: "I am relieved that Samantha will be able to serve her sentence in the UK.
"I would like to thank the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for all their work, FCO Minister Chris Bryant for travelling to Laos and personally signing the Memorandum of Understanding to make Samantha's transfer possible, and Reprieve, the legal action charity which has been representing her."
Reader views (22)
It isn't just the British govt. that does idiotic tricks like this. Washington pulls it's share of loopy tricks. If mommy and daddy goes to the govt. because those horrible people put little Johnny or little Suzie in jail for comiting crimes then the govt jumps through hoops to free them. BUT LET ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE COMMIT CRIMES HERE!!!!!!!!!!!! One would think the world was coming to end. Govts. are all the same.USELESS!!!!!!!!!!!
- Donnie L. Gannon, Gahanna Ohio USA, 07/08/2009 02:46
Report abuse
Now she is back, we will have to pay for her and that makes me sick!
- Trisha Crawford, EAST CROYDON, 07/08/2009 01:09
Report abuse
Why why why are the Brits so stupid. It leaves me in shame to think that we spend good earned tax money to sheild and protect drup traffickers.
- Terry Harrs, richmond surrey, 07/08/2009 00:31
Report abuse
Oh come on people - why should this drug-smuggling, convicted non-British criminal with a sprog on the way (being born in the UK said kiddie will be her only quasi-legitimate claim to stay in the country, it sounds like) be treated any different to thousands of other such undesireables. Everyone should be welcoming her with open arms, surely? No? Can't imagine why.....
- Rogan, Irving, 06/08/2009 22:25
Report abuse
Should this prove to be a pregnancy that permitted repatriation for Samantha, how much thought was given to the new life that has been created?
Not much beyond 03 June 2010 I would suggest, ie: the latest obligatory date for a general election.
Was the child born out of love, or convenience? Then what?
- Ken.H, Harrow. UK, 06/08/2009 21:40
Report abuse
Harriet Harman has reared her ugly head, surprised that she hasn't blamed a man for the smuggling!
- Sally Jones, London, 06/08/2009 19:04
Report abuse
Words fail me. Glad I live in France now.As for 'becoming a laughing stock' , you are one.In Ireland recently , the papers there made much fun of the fact the UK government agreed some sections of UK society could claim for more than one wife.
- Chris M, morbihan,france, 06/08/2009 18:58
Report abuse
IF she committed the crime then she must serve her full sentence and not let out early because she has young baby. She clearly knew all the 'tricks' and deliberately got herself pregnant to increase her chances of returning to the UK. She knew the risks of drug trafficking and she should take the punishment.
IF she didn't commit the crime then it is only right her case is looked at again.
- Andy, london, 06/08/2009 18:33
Report abuse
Hold on now, to conserve the life of an innocent by all means allow her to have the baby in the UK, but once that's done and the baby is no longer breast feeding then she should be sent back to Laos to serve her sentence.
- Bob, Cheam, 06/08/2009 17:42
Report abuse
She is not British! She resided here for a few years before LEAVING the coubntry.
- Dirk Diggler, Soho, London, 06/08/2009 17:32
Report abuse
am sick of people (native brits) denouncing naturalised brits as foreigners, is there not a legal process in this country to change your citizenship to british. how many brits migrate abroad and renounce uk citizenship for their chosen country (u dont suppose they suffer the same prejudice as here). time to get over it, if the law says you're british regardless of were you were born then keep your gobs shut.
- Norbert -Gooner, london, 06/08/2009 17:16
Report abuse
...'this is excellent news', oh yes; we're all over the moon. Aren't we lucky to have the heroin trafficker back? I certainly am releived that we have have back.
- Jules_London, london, 06/08/2009 17:16
Report abuse
This country is a complete and utter joke!
- Angry Young Man, Turd, UK, 06/08/2009 17:00
Report abuse
She's not British and her relatives don't live here. What has she been doing since leaving her (free) school? Who's been keeping her? This Government is turning this country into the laughing stock of the world, and I don't say that lightly.
- Sue R, London, 06/08/2009 16:58
Report abuse
Foreign Office Minister Chris Bryant said: "This is excellent news. No it isn't, it is double standards time again from a mealy mouthed government. For a Government minister, of a government that spends so much of its time ensuring ministers are'On message', what sort of message does this send out. So it's OK to deal in drugs, ruin other peoples lives, and become a criminal, because if you get caught we, the government will bail you out. However, if you drive a car, drink, but pass the breathalyser test, we will review all the cases,so that we can reduce the limit so that we can criminalise you.
As for the comment of Clive Stafford-Smith, director of Reprieve, 'she should be allowed access to independent lawyers on her return', "No-one can think the Laos conviction is valid and for Britain to enforce that is to enforce something surely everyone in the British Government deplores." er, I hope not, I think that to be caught with 1.5lbs of heroin in your luggage is more than deplorable. It's hardly for your own recreational use. Where is this parallel universe that these guys seem to inhabit?
- Alan, carlisle uk, 06/08/2009 16:53
Report abuse
So Harriet Harman MP and Labours Deputy Leader says "I am relieved Samantha will be able to serve her sentence in the UK" how comforting for all the victims of crime that suffer as a result of heroin addicts actions.
- Howard, London, UK, 06/08/2009 16:46
Report abuse
Perhaps she, as a drugs smuggler and serious criminal, should serve her prison sentence in her native Nigeria, where she should be deported to.
She is neither a "Londoner" nor British.
- Weddigen (A Non-Smoker), London SW3, 06/08/2009 16:32
Report abuse
what a class act. another 'British' citizen dragged back to this country. everyone who negotiated her release must be very proud of themselves. congrats to you all. now she can have her sprog over here and claim as much benefit as she can until she feels like another trip away to smuggle more heroin. i bet this time she will look more carefully to find a country that has an extradition policy with the UK and preferbly with another brit doing life.
good luck to you darling.
- Jonny, London, 06/08/2009 16:16
Report abuse
So if Laos can deport British criminals to the UK and we become responsible for keeping in her in prison, for life hopefully, why can't we deport the likes of Abu Qattada to Jordan where he is wanted for terrorism offences?
- Adam, Harrow, UK, 06/08/2009 16:13
Report abuse
well done chris bryant another burden for the taxpayer, there are to many people comitting crimes abroad then knowing if caught the U.K. will bail them out scum like this should suffer the sentence imposed in the country where the crime is comitted, what about the lives she would have ruined if got in with the drugs plus finacial gain, I feel sick mr do gooder ugh
- Basil, bussiere poitevine 87320 france, 06/08/2009 15:57
Report abuse
"Foreign Office Minister Chris Bryant said: 'This is excellent news...'
Proof, as if any is needed, that the inmates have taken over the asylum. A Nigerian commits a crime in Laos, and suddenly it's the British taxpayer who will fund her cosy existence behind bars. What a joke...
- Jock, London, 06/08/2009 15:52
Report abuse
She isnt a Londoner.
Im so glad we are wasting more time, money and effort on foreign criminals committing crimes thousands of miles away
- Lb, London, 06/08/2009 15:46
Report abuse
