Parents 'shocked' as Laos hostel staff fined $185 over evidence destruction

The families of two Melbourne teenagers who died after drinking methanol-laced alcohol in Laos say they were blindsided to learn hostel workers involved in the incident received fines of just $185. Bianca Jones and Holly Morton-Bowles, both 19, were killed by methanol poisoning along with four other tourists after a night out at the Nana backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng in November 2024.

More than a year later, the girls’ fathers, Shaun Bowles and Mark Jones, said they found out about the court outcome through a group chat started by the parents of British lawyer Simone White. That’s where they learned 10 people connected to the hostel faced court in January and were fined $185 and given suspended sentences for destroying evidence.

“We were shocked by the absolute injustice for our girls and the others,” Jones said. “We have had no correspondence with anyone from the Laos government.

Laos, Vang Vieng

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