Frail Lindsay Sandiford, a convicted drug courier originally from Redcar, Teesside, has been spared from facing death in Bali after a plea from UK officials due to concerns about her health. Sandiford, a 69-year-old legal secretary, was sentenced to death in 2013 for smuggling £1.6 million worth of cocaine and has spent the last 12 years in Indonesia’s notorious Kerobokan prison, claiming she was coerced by a UK-based drug ring to transport the drugs from Thailand.
Indonesian authorities have agreed to transfer Sandiford back to the UK after UK doctors confirmed her serious illness. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper personally intervened to secure her return. The finalization of her release is expected to occur imminently, with both Starmer and Cooper advocating for her repatriation.
Sandiford, along with another inmate, Shahab Shahabadi, will be transferred to the UK under the agreement. Sandiford’s relocation to India in 2012 followed her arrest in Bali in 2012 for drug trafficking. Despite initially claiming coercion by a criminal gang, she later confessed to her involvement and cooperated with authorities to apprehend other accomplices involved in the drug operation.
Renowned human rights barrister Dr. Felicity Gerry KC, who has been advocating for Sandiford’s release, emphasized the need for her immediate freedom upon her return to the UK. While the possibility exists that Sandiford may have to serve the remainder of her sentence in the UK, Dr. Gerry believes her lengthy incarceration should warrant her release upon arrival.
Sandiford’s ordeal, spent in constant fear of execution, has taken a toll on her mental well-being, and she may require psychological support upon her return. Her case highlights the importance of international cooperation, and her impending repatriation signifies a significant development in her long-standing legal battle.
The Indonesian President’s recent actions in repatriating high-profile inmates sentenced for drug offenses indicate a shift in the country’s approach to drug-related crimes. Sandiford’s imminent return to the UK marks the end of a challenging chapter in her life, as she prepares to reunite with her family after years of uncertainty and hardship.