Death Row Grandmother Lindsay Sandiford Returns to UK After 13 Years in Bali Prison
Lindsay Sandiford, a British grandmother, feared execution by firing squad before her release from death row in Bali. After spending 13 years in prison for drug trafficking, she has finally returned to the UK.
Sandiford, 69, was freed along with another British national under a repatriation agreement between the UK and Indonesia. She arrived at Heathrow Airport this afternoon after a 20-hour flight from Bali, with a ticket reportedly costing £600, paid for by the UK government.
Convicted of smuggling cocaine worth £1.6 million into Bali, Sandiford appeared frail on arrival and was assisted in a wheelchair through the airport to waiting transport. She has described her release as a “second chance” to rebuild her life with her family in the UK after 12 years facing execution.
Health and Legal Status
Sandiford is reported to be seriously ill. Indonesian minister Yusril Mahendra said she was examined by a doctor from the British consulate on the island.
“In England, she will remain in prison,”
stated I Nyoman Gede Surya Mataram, Indonesia’s deputy minister for immigration and correctional coordination. It remains unclear whether she will serve further prison time upon her return. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has not confirmed if Sandiford will be reincarcerated.
Background
- Lindsay Sandiford was convicted of smuggling cocaine valued at £1.6 million into Bali.
- She spent 13 years imprisoned, 12 of them on death row.
- She was repatriated under an agreement between the UK and Indonesia.
- Her return flight was 20 hours long with a government-funded ticket.
Sandiford’s Perspective
“I was allowed a second chance at life with my family,”
she said after her release, highlighting the emotional significance of reclaiming her life after years under a death sentence.
Author’s summary: Lindsay Sandiford’s release after 13 years on death row in Bali marks a frail but hopeful return to the UK, though her legal and health status remain uncertain.
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