A grandmother who spent 12 years on death row in Indonesia is set to return to the UK following 12 years of imprisonment.
Under an agreement made by the Indonesian government, Lindsay Sandiford, along with fellow Brit Shahab Shahabadi, will be repatriated. An Indonesian official confirmed that the necessary arrangements would be finalized and the transfer executed promptly.
Sandiford, a mother-of-two and former legal secretary from Redcar, North East England, received a death sentence in 2013 after being caught with cocaine valued at $2.14 million hidden in her suitcase upon arrival from Thailand the previous year.
Unlike other death row inmates in Indonesia who face a firing squad, Sandiford’s life was spared. The execution method involves a group of armed soldiers aiming at the heart of the condemned, followed by a final shot to the head if needed.
Executions in Indonesia are rare, with many inmates spending over a decade awaiting their fate. The country’s last executions took place in 2015, and currently, 130 individuals, including Sandiford, are on death row.
In 2012, Sandiford relocated to India after being evicted from her residence in Cheltenham. Her arrest in Bali in 2012 stemmed from the discovery of a significant amount of cocaine in her possession, which she claimed was due to coercion by a criminal group threatening her family.
Despite initially denying involvement in drug trafficking, Sandiford later confessed upon learning the severe consequences. She cooperated with authorities to apprehend other culprits, leading to charges of drug trafficking against herself and one other individual.
While Sandiford’s defense argued coercion and mental health issues, she was convicted and sentenced to death. In contrast, her accomplices faced lesser charges and sentences.
Following unsuccessful appeals and legal battles, Sandiford has been detained in Kerobokan Prison, Bali. Her impending release coincides with Indonesia’s relaxation of drug laws, allowing eligible inmates, like Sandiford, who have exhibited good behavior during their incarceration, to be set free.
With newfound hope for freedom, Sandiford has begun distributing her belongings to fellow inmates. This move comes as part of Indonesia’s recent efforts to repatriate high-profile drug offenders, aligning with President Prabowo Subianto’s administration’s leniency towards certain cases.
Other notable cases of repatriation include Serge Atlaoui to France and Mary Jane Veloso’s release after years of imprisonment for drug-related offenses in Indonesia. Additionally, members of the Bali Nine were granted freedom despite their prior convictions for heroin smuggling.