Death Row Grandmother Lindsay Sandiford Returns to the UK After 13 Years in Bali Prison
Lindsay Sandiford, a British grandmother who spent 13 years on death row in Bali, has returned to the UK following her release. The 69-year-old was convicted for smuggling £1.6 million worth of cocaine into Bali and had faced execution by firing squad.
Sandiford arrived at Heathrow Airport this afternoon after a 20-hour flight from Bali via Dubai. Her government-paid ticket reportedly cost £600. She appeared frail and covered her face as she was transported in a wheelchair through the airport.
Her release is part of a repatriation agreement between the UK and Indonesia, which also saw another British national freed. Sandiford has expressed gratitude for having been given a "second chance" to reunite with her family in the UK after years spent awaiting execution for drug smuggling.
Health and Legal Status
According to Indonesian Minister Yusril Mahendra, Sandiford is “seriously ill” and has received medical attention from a doctor at the British consulate in Bali. It remains unclear whether she will serve additional prison time in the UK. Indonesia’s Deputy Minister for Immigration and Correctional Coordination, I Nyoman Gede Surya Mataram, stated:
“In England, she will remain in prison.”
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has not provided further details on Sandiford’s legal situation upon her return.
Summary
Lindsay Sandiford’s repatriation marks the end of a long ordeal on death row in Indonesia, though questions remain about her health and potential imprisonment in the UK.