VIENTIANE, Laos — A court in Laos found a pregnant British woman guilty of trafficking heroin and sentenced her to life in prison Wednesday, a court official said.
The life sentence for 20-year-old Samantha Orobator came after a one-day trial in the Lao capital, according to Chanthaly Duangvilai, vice-president of the Vientiane Court.
Orobator pleaded guilty, he said at a press briefing after the trial.
Heroin trafficking is punishable by death, but she was spared because the law does not allow the execution of pregnant women, said Chanthaly.
Under a recent pact, which still needs ratification, Orobator could be extradited to serve her time in Britain. Officials, however, could still veto her return.
Orobator’s case attracted particular attention because she became pregnant while incarcerated. <span style="font-weight: bold">Officials have asserted that she may have artificially inseminated herself while behind bars. </span>
Orobator arrived in court wearing a blue prison outfit and smiling to reporters. She was escorted by female prison guards but was not in handcuffs or ankle chains.
Her mother also attended the trial, as did at least one official from the British Embassy in neighbouring Thailand.
I still don't get how she managed to do AI in prison
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