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The brother of a 28-year-old British tourist who died in a mass ethanol poisoning in Laos has lambasted £135 fines being issued to offenders as 'an absolute joke'.
Simone White had been backpacking across southeast Asia with her childhood friend, Bethany Clarke, both from Oprington, when tragedy struck in Laos.
And what should have been a holiday of a lifetime turned into tragedy on November 12, 2024, when Ms White died after drinking a free shot.
The young lawyer was among six people who died in the popular tourist town of Vang Vieng after consuming alcohol laced with methanol at the Nana Backpacker Hostel.
The substance is a toxic liquid usually found in paint thinner, which is sometimes illegally placed in alcohol in a bid to cut costs.
Initially, the 28-year-old believed she had a hangover. However, after she and Bethany were taken to hospital, she died from a bleed on the brain.
Several among the 100 guests who were given free shots fell gravely ill, with six, including Australians Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, both 19, among those who died.
Ten people have since been charged with destruction of evidence linked to the poisoning and handed suspended sentences.
Simone White was one of six tourists who tragically died following a mass methanol poisoning at a hostel bar in Vang Vieng, Laos, last November
Zak White (pictured with his sister Simone) has lambasted £135 fines issued to offenders as 'an absolute joke'.
The Nana Backpackers Hostel, where the fatal poisoning took place in November 2024
But, Ms White's devastated brother has condemned the $185 (£135) fines received by each as 'an absolute joke'.
'I don't think we're ever going to get to the bottom of what happened and get a fair punishment,' Zack White told BBC Newsbeat.
It is believed the owner of the distillery where the spirits are alleged to have been produced is awaiting trial.
Mr White revealed he and his family had anticipated a disappointing outcome of the case, describing the Loas authorities as 'very difficult throughout the whole process'.
'We've kind of had a strong kind of indication that there wasn't really ever going to be any justice,' he added.
Meanwhile, Ms White's childhood friend Bethany has maintained that there are several questions about the incident, including the names of those charged.
'We haven't got a clue what's going on with any of it. So it's very limited communications from the law authorities,' she said.
Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer said: 'We share the disappointment of the families at this outcome and we understand their frustration.
Simone White had been backpacking across southeast Asia with her childhood friend, Bethany Clarke, (pictured) both from Oprington, when tragedy struck in Laos
The young lawyer was among six people who died in the popular tourist town of Vang Vieng after consuming alcohol laced with methanol at the Nana Backpacker Hostel
'We have been clear with the Laos government that we expect robust action to be taken against those responsible for selling alcohol tainted with methanol and our Embassy continues to raise this case directly with the local authorities.
'We remain committed to preventing further tragedies and will continue to raise the issue of methanol poisoning at the highest levels with the Laos government.
'We have now extended travel warnings to cover more than 25 countries following this alarming rise in tragic deaths.'
The Foreign Office previously stated that officials in Laos said the hostel would be unable to reopen until the court proceedings were over.
It remains unclear if the relayed information from the country's Ministry of Public Security included the trial involving the distillery owner.
Listings under its rebranded name, Paradise Hostel, were found by Newsbeat on both Booking.com and Agoda.
The firm is understood to be under a new owner. However, the listings have since vanished from Booking.com after 'unusual activity' was flagged in its reviews.
Agoda is understood to be probing the listings, while Booking.com has temporarily suspended for breaching its terms and conditions.
The Daily Mail has approached Agoda and Booking.com for comment.