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Original poster

This British girl on drugs charge in Laos...

138 replies

Ponders · 04/05/2009 11:39

She's been in prison since August but she is 5 months pregnant???

A bit more information would be helpful

OP posts:
ilove · 04/05/2009 11:41

Huh? Did she get pregnant in prison?

differentID · 04/05/2009 11:41

let's just say that the Laotian guards or possibly the male prisoners will have done the deed.

belgo · 04/05/2009 11:44

She's been in prison since August and she hasn't seen a lawyer? And the British embassy also weren't informed of her arrest.

Metella · 04/05/2009 11:45

All the prisoners are female - make of it what you will.

Nancy66 · 04/05/2009 12:12

presumably the guards aren't...

MatthewBellamysMuse · 04/05/2009 12:13

The circumstances of the pregnancy aren't clear but they think she might have been raped.

RedEmma · 04/05/2009 12:15

Yes, I think the suggestion is she's been raped by a guard. The whole situation seems pretty hopeless for her

MatthewBellamysMuse · 04/05/2009 12:15

That's from Reprieve, the human rights group.

Nancy66 · 04/05/2009 12:15

The baby was conceived while she was in prison - she has no boyfriend and has not been allowed any visitors so it looks like a pretty open and shut case to me.

Poor cow.

Notalone · 04/05/2009 12:19

I wa reading this today in BBC News and am so sorry for her. She must be going through hell. She has almost certainly been raped, is pregnant with a baby she possibly does not want, is probably having next to no medical care and she is facing death by firing squad. It doesn't get much worse. Drug smuggler or not surely something can be done for her - my heart goes out to her and her mother who sounds absolutely desparate

Nancy66 · 04/05/2009 12:21

Reprieve are the most amazing organisation - everyone should try and look at their website if they can.

I agree Notalone - guilty or not she doesn't deserve this.

ScummyMummy · 04/05/2009 12:23

It's a horrendous case. So hope something can be done to help her.

pginthecloset · 04/05/2009 12:24

Poor girl - how horrific

I don't understand her mother though. She says she initially heard about it last September but didn't believe it was her daughter.

Where does she think her daughter has been all these months then with no contact, and why didn't she follow it up sooner ?

Notalone · 04/05/2009 12:27

From the sounds of it pginthecloset she lived with her Aunt most of her life and she had been travelling so she and her mother probably were not having frequent contact.

Nancy66 · 04/05/2009 12:27

I believe she was raised by her aunt and not her mother. Also prior to her arrest she was backpacking and, therefore, out of contact for some periods.

LouMacca · 04/05/2009 12:28

pg - thats exactly what I thought! Very strange.

Poor girl - hope that something can be done for her.

pginthecloset · 04/05/2009 12:29

Ah, I see. It's so scary to think you can be out alone in the world like that and just disappear with no-one noticing for so long

noddyholder · 04/05/2009 12:31

God that is awful

HeinzSight · 04/05/2009 12:31

How terrible, poor poor girl. I can't even begin to imagine what she's been through

I also agree it's somewhat strange her Mother's comment about not believing it was her when she heard in September.

What scary awful places there are in the world

MollieO · 04/05/2009 12:34

According to what I've read Reprieve have sent a lawyer out there who should be there now. There has been difficulty contacting the Laos authorities because they aren't on email and don't have a fax that works (I do find that hard to believe but then I've never been to Laos).

According to the interview I had with the rep from Reprieve it is 'normal' there for the authorities to take two years to investigate before trial and for the defendant to be allowed no access to a lawyer during that time. Then a lawyer is appointed a week before the trial starts. Can't quite get my head around this complete absence of justice.

AphroditeInHerNightie · 04/05/2009 12:36

Sorry but I'm putting on my Customs Officer head (been in the job for 19 yrs, now you ask) and say "sorry? my arse!"
Yes, it's a very unfortunate situation she's in now but if she hadn't attempted to break the law she wouldn't be where she is now. 'Nuff said!

pginthecloset · 04/05/2009 12:38

I think the sympathy is for the fact that she is pregnant, probably as the result of rape, not because she is in jail for drug smuggling.

inscotland · 04/05/2009 12:39

I think her case is being heard today. What's she has done is wrong and you need to live by the rules of the country you are living in and I am afraid if that is death then as horrific and barbaric it sounds it is their culture. I do however feel for her as she doesn't seem to have had any legal representation and has been raped.

ComeOVeneer · 04/05/2009 12:40

So because she attempted to break the law (and we don't know she did) it is her own fault that she is in a hell hole, has (by the sounds of things) been raped, is preganant with no medical care!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree convicted drug smugglers should be imprisoned, but following a fair trial, with proper legal representation and not festering in a 4x4ft cell with 5 other inmates being subjected to abuse and heaven knows what else! Even criminals should be entitled to some basic human rights!

HeinzSight · 04/05/2009 12:41

Applauds ComeOVeneer's post