A grandmother, Lindsay Sandiford, who was facing the death penalty for smuggling cocaine into Indonesia, is set to return to the UK after being spared from execution. Sandiford, a UK legal secretary, received a reprieve and will fly back with a £600 plane ticket funded by the UK government. The 69-year-old, who has spent 13 years in Bali’s Kerobokan prison, is reportedly in poor health and eager to reunite with her family in the UK.
Sandiford will depart from Kerobokan jail alongside another UK national, Shahab Shahabadi, who is serving a life sentence for drug offenses. The pair will be escorted to Denpasar International Airport and handed over to the UK Ambassador before boarding a flight to London Heathrow Airport. Sandiford’s release follows a bilateral agreement between Indonesia and the UK government, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper playing a role in securing her return.
During her time in prison, Sandiford contended that she was coerced by a drug syndicate to transport the drugs from Thailand. However, she later changed her story and admitted involvement with a British antiques dealer. Despite appeals citing coercion and mental health issues, she was found guilty and sentenced to death in 2013.
Sandiford’s impending return to the UK marks the conclusion of a challenging chapter in her life, as she battled harsh prison conditions in Bali. Her release comes after Indonesia relaxed its strict laws on drug trafficking, with no executions carried out since 2016. Sandiford’s health deteriorated during her imprisonment, and she is looking forward to receiving medical attention and spending time with her family upon her return.