Families of methanol poisoning victims ‘shocked’ by £95 superb handed to Laos hostel workers | EUROtoday

The households of two Australian youngsters who died of methanol poisoning in Laos in 2024 have expressed shock on the “disgraceful” fines levied on staff accountable for serving the contaminated drinks.

The staff on the Nana backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng, a preferred vacationer space within the Southeast Asian nation, acquired fines of about £95 (A$185) that the households described as an “absolute injustice”.

Six vacationers died after consuming methanol-laced alcohol on the hostel in November 2024. Ten folks have been discovered responsible of destroying proof and acquired a suspended sentence and a superb of about £95.

The hostel has since reopened underneath a distinct title. Two 19-year-olds from Melbourne have been among the many six vacationers killed by methanol poisoning.

“We were shocked by the absolute injustice for our girls and the others,” Mark Jones, the daddy of Bianca Jones, advised 9News.

“We have had no correspondence with anyone from the Laos government. We had no idea the court case was going ahead,” he stated.

Earlier, the households of the 2 Melbourne youngsters had stated that there was “silence” and “inaction” from the Laotian authorities. They stated the shortage of communication from the Australian authorities had “made an unbearable grief even worse”, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported. The authorities has not but addressed these allegations by the dad and mom.

Shaun Bowles, the daddy of Holly Morton-Bowles, stated: “The best word to describe it is ‘disappointment’.”

He added: “For us not to be told they’re going ahead is abhorrent.

“To think that the Laos authorities believe that those who were involved in killing our daughters is worth (A)$185 is absolutely disgraceful.”

The households claimed that that they had realized of the sentencing via different poisoning victims from Denmark and the UK and never the Australian authorities.

“As citizens of this country, we expect the government to look after their people and get justice for their citizens when they go travelling,” Mr Jones advised 9News.

“We can’t get into the country. There’s nothing more we can do. We need the government to do something because we are out of options,” Mr Bowles added.

“We’ve been in touch with the government yesterday and last night and what we’re … asking them to do is to step up and represent our girls in the way that they deserve to be represented,” Mr Bowles stated.

“Because we just we’re out of options. It’s pretty devastating.”

Mr Jones advised the Sydney Morning Herald: “We have had no correspondence with anyone from the Laos government.

“We had no idea the court case was going ahead. Our beautiful girls, and the other victims, deserve justice at a bare minimum, and a $185 fine is hardly justice.”

Australia’s international minister Penny Wong stated she has communicated to the Laos authorities that Australia anticipated “full accountability”.

“I have also made it clear that charges should reflect the seriousness of the tragedy, which left six people dead, including Holly and Bianca.”

The division of international affairs and commerce (DFAT) stated in a press release that they have been “aware that the Vang Vieng District Court sentenced individuals over the destruction of evidence in relation to the death of a US citizen.

“We continue to press Lao authorities on the cases relating to Holly and Bianca’s deaths, and we will continue to support Holly and Bianca’s families at this distressing time.”