Frail grandmother Lindsay Sandiford, a convicted drug mule, has been released from Bali’s Kerobokan prison after serving a decade behind bars. Sandiford, 69, who was sentenced to death in 2013 for smuggling 1.6 million worth of cocaine into Indonesia, left the jail in a wheelchair, looking disheveled and wearing a face mask.
Sandiford, eager to return home to Britain, is set to embark on an 8,000-mile journey, starting with a flight from Bali to London Heathrow. The UK Government facilitated her release, allowing her to access necessary medical care upon her return.
Having endured 12 years in harsh prison conditions in Bali, Sandiford’s health has deteriorated, leading doctors to classify her as seriously unwell. Despite claiming coercion by a UK drug syndicate, she was sentenced to death in 2013. However, a recent agreement between Indonesia and the UK paved the way for her repatriation due to her deteriorating health.
Indonesia’s senior law and human rights minister confirmed Sandiford’s poor health and the decision to transfer her back to the UK. The agreement was signed in Jakarta, allowing Sandiford and another prisoner to return to the UK. Sandiford, who had no prior criminal record, was caught with cocaine in her suitcase at Denpasar Airport, claiming she was threatened by a drug gang.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is actively working to support Sandiford’s return to the UK, emphasizing close collaboration with Indonesian authorities on the matter.