Lindsay Sandiford, a frail grandmother who was sentenced to death in 2013 for smuggling cocaine into Indonesia, experienced freedom after a decade as she left Bali’s notorious Kerobokan jail in a wheelchair. The 69-year-old pensioner, looking disheveled and wearing a face mask, is set to embark on an 8,000-mile journey back to Britain.
Sandiford, whose release was secured by the UK Government, is eager to reunite with her family and receive necessary medical attention after spending years in harsh conditions at the Indonesian prison. She is scheduled to board a flight to London Heathrow, with a brief layover, on a UK-funded seat.
Sources revealed that Sandiford’s deteriorating health prompted her release, with doctors emphasizing her urgent need for medical care. The bilateral agreement between Indonesia and the UK Government facilitated her return, following a personal plea from Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to Indonesian authorities.
Indonesia’s senior law and human rights minister confirmed Sandiford’s illness and the agreement for her transfer back to the UK. Sandiford’s ordeal began in 2013 when she was caught with cocaine at Denpasar Airport, leading to a death sentence despite her claims of coercion by a UK drug syndicate.
The repatriation agreement also includes Shahab Shahabadi, another prisoner serving a life sentence for drug offenses. The transfer agreement was officially signed in Jakarta, marking the end of a challenging chapter for Sandiford and a significant development in international relations between the UK and Indonesia.
