UK News
Laos will not execute pregnant British woman
May 14, 2009, 7:16 GMT
Bangkok - Laos will not execute a pregnant British woman who is in prison on drug trafficking charges, the country's deputy prime minister said Thursday.
'Our constitution prohibits death penalty for any pregnant person,' Deputy Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith told The Nation online news service.
Thongloun, who is also foreign minister, was in Thailand on a state visit led by Lao President Choummaly Sayasone.
While in Thailand, Thongloun verified that the communist country had no intention of executing British national Samantha Orobator, 20, who has been in a Vientiane jail since August after allegedly being caught with 680 grams of heroin at a Vientiane airport.
Under Lao law, trafficking in more than half a kilogram of heroin carries the death penalty, by firing squad, but the constitution prohibits the execution of pregnant women.
Orobator, who is expected to be sentenced this week, may be transferred to the United Kingdom to serve her term. The UK and Laos signed a prisoner transfer agreement last week in London.
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