First Picture of Death Row Grandmother Lindsay Sandiford Back on British Soil
Lindsay Sandiford, 69, was convicted 13 years ago for smuggling £1.6 million worth of cocaine into Bali. She was photographed arriving at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 4 on Friday.
The British grandmother spent more than a decade on death row in Indonesia before her return. She was seen in a wheelchair, wearing black leggings and a green cardigan, while covering her face with her clothing.
Sandiford left Indonesia early Friday after being spared execution. Jakarta and London agreed to repatriate her and another British prisoner due to humanitarian reasons. The British government reportedly spent £600 on her flight back to the UK.
Departure and Handover
Before boarding the flight in Bali, Sandiford appeared at a handover ceremony at Kerobokan Prison. She left the notorious facility accompanied by 35-year-old Shabab Shahabadi, also a British inmate serving a life sentence for drug offenses.
The two were transported to Denpasar International Airport, where British Ambassador Dominic Jeremy was expected to receive them before their flight.
Official Statement
"Lindsay Sandiford and Shahab Shahabadi have serious health conditions and are being repatriated on humanitarian grounds." — Matthew Downing, UK Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia
This repatriation marks a humanitarian resolution to their prolonged imprisonment overseas.
Author's summary: Lindsay Sandiford, convicted of drug smuggling, has been returned to the UK after over a decade on death row in Indonesia, following a humanitarian agreement between the two governments.