Death Row Grandmother Lindsay Sandiford Returns to UK After 13 Years in Bali Prison
Lindsay Sandiford, 69, a British grandmother who was convicted for smuggling £1.6 million worth of cocaine into Bali, has returned to the UK after 13 years in Indonesian prison. She was freed as part of a repatriation agreement between the UK and Indonesia.
Sandiford arrived at Heathrow Airport this afternoon on a government-funded flight, reportedly costing £600. After a 20-hour journey via Dubai, she appeared frail and used a wheelchair while being escorted from the airport.
For 12 years, Sandiford faced the threat of execution by firing squad in Bali. She has described her release as a “second chance” to be with her family in the UK.
Health and Legal Status Updates
According to Indonesian Minister Yusril Mahendra, Sandiford is “seriously ill” and has been examined by a doctor from the British consulate on the island.
“In England, she will remain in prison,” said Indonesia’s deputy minister for immigration and correctional coordination, I Nyoman Gede Surya Mataram.
However, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has not yet confirmed whether Sandiford will be returned to prison in the UK.
Background
- Sandiford was convicted for smuggling cocaine into Bali.
- She was on death row for more than a decade.
- Her release was part of a UK-Indonesia repatriation agreement.
Public Reactions
The case has drawn attention to the harsh penalties for drug trafficking in Indonesia and raised questions about her treatment and future legal status upon returning to the UK.
Sandiford previously spoke of being grateful for a “second chance at life with her family.”
Author's summary: Lindsay Sandiford, after 13 years on death row in Bali for drug trafficking, returns to the UK amid health concerns and unclear future imprisonment status.