UK grandmother on Indonesia death row arrives back in London

UK Grandmother on Indonesia Death Row Returns to London

Two British nationals convicted of drug offenses, including a grandmother detained on death row in Indonesia for over ten years, returned to the UK on Friday.

Background and Release

Indonesia, known for its stringent drug laws, has released several high-profile prisoners in the past year. Lindsay Sandiford, 69, was sentenced to death in Bali in 2013 for smuggling cocaine valued at $2.14 million into Indonesia.

She was freed on humanitarian grounds alongside Shahab Shahabadi, 36, who had been serving a life sentence for drug-related charges since his 2014 arrest.

Return Journey

Both detainees departed Bali via a Qatar Airways flight to London through Doha, confirmed by an Indonesian law and human rights ministry official to AFP.

Upon arrival at Heathrow Terminal 4, Sandiford was seen in a wheelchair, shielded by security and covering her face with a jacket, without speaking to the press.

Official Statements

"Two British nationals who were detained in Indonesia have now returned to the UK," stated a representative from the British Foreign Office.
At a ceremony at Bali's Kerobokan prison, Indonesian official I Nyoman Gede Surya Mataram announced, "the pair's detention will be moved to the United Kingdom" as part of the agreement.

Summary

This case highlights Indonesia’s tough drug policies while illustrating recent efforts to transfer certain detainees to their home countries under humanitarian arrangements.

Author's summary: Two British drug convicts, including a grandmother on Indonesia’s death row for over a decade, were repatriated to the UK under a bilateral transfer deal.

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RFI RFI — 2025-11-06

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