Charges have been laid against the person linked to the deaths of Australian teenagers Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones in Laos, with the accused facing a possible minimum jail term of just three months.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 19-year-olds were among six people who died after consuming methanol-tainted alcohol while staying at Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng in November 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A Laos court has charged the accused with selling food harmful to health and\u00a0operating\u00a0an illegal business, offences that carry a potential prison sentence of between three months and four years.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The charges were announced by the Danish government on Friday night, citing information from Laotian authorities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The court said the case would remain open for 15 years and that more serious charges, including negligent homicide, could still be pursued if sufficient evidence was found.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Authorities did not reveal whether the charges related to all six deaths, or whether the accused had entered a plea.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The announcement was made at the Ministry of Public Security in Laos\u2019 capital Vientiane, with media requests to attend the proceedings rejected.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Australian teenagers Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones were travelling through south-east Asia when they became ill after drinking alcohol at the Nana Backpacker Hostel.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They were later evacuated to hospitals in neighbouring Thailand, where they died.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Two Danish women, a British\u00a0woman\u00a0and an American man also died following the methanol poisoning incident.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The victims had\u00a0reportedly consumed\u00a0\u201cfree shots\u201d of Laotian vodka at the hostel before heading out to other venues.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The families of Holly and Bianca had expressed concerns before the charges were announced that those responsible would not face offences that matched the seriousness of the deaths.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The parents of Melbourne teen Ms Jones, Mark and Michelle, told Sky News Australia they will continue to fight for justice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Six people have lost their lives here, we think a proper judicial process needs to be seen\u00a0through\u00a0and justice needs to be served,” Mr Jones said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“There are perpetrators still there in Laos who need to be brought to justice.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the government was disappointed that authorities were not pursuing what Australia believed were the most serious charges available.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ms Wong said she was \u201cdeeply frustrated and bitterly disappointed\u201d that authorities were not pursuing \u201cthe most serious charges\u201d in relation to the women\u2019s deaths.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the federal government had sent an envoy to Laos to raise Australia\u2019s concerns and push for an investigation that delivered justice for the victims.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Australian officials also summoned Laos\u2019 ambassador to Canberra following the announcement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Danish government also expressed disappointment over the charges.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Danish Foreign Minister Lars L\u00f8kke Rasmussen said the\u00a0indictment\u00a0did not reflect the seriousness of the tragedy or the impact on the families involved.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that proving more serious offences could be\u00a0difficult, but\u00a0said it was still challenging to accept what he described as a lenient outcome.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mr Rasmussen said Denmark would continue working with the families and other affected nations on the next steps in the case.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Charges have been laid against the person linked to the deaths of Australian teenagers Holly Bowles and 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