Drugs courier Lindsay Sandiford, known as “gran,” is returning to the UK after spending over a decade on death row. Despite her imminent arrival in the UK, she may face immediate imprisonment.
The 69-year-old was seen in a wheelchair experiencing freedom for the first time in 13 years upon leaving Bali’s notorious Kerobokan prison. Concealing her face with a mask, she was swiftly transported to Denpasar International Airport to board a Qatar Airways flight, funded by the UK with a £600 plane ticket.
Sandiford’s release was made possible through a bilateral agreement between Keir Starmer and Indonesian authorities. Her health is reported to be deteriorating as she embarks on the 20-hour journey back to the UK.
This marks the conclusion of a traumatic period for Sandiford, a legal secretary, who was initially sentenced to death for smuggling £1.6 million worth of cocaine into Indonesia. The decision on whether she will be released or detained upon her return to the UK remains undisclosed by the Foreign Office.
Indonesia’s Deputy Minister for Immigration and Correctional Coordination, I Nyoman Gede Surya Mataram, stated that Sandiford will be incarcerated in England upon her arrival. Sandiford, along with another UK national, Shahab Shahabadi, who is serving a life sentence for separate drug offenses, was released from Kerobokan prison.
After signing repatriation papers at the prison, both individuals were transferred to Denpasar International Airport to board a flight for their journey back. The repatriation agreement, signed by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, signifies Indonesia’s commitment to international legal cooperation.
Authorities in Indonesia highlighted Sandiford’s health issues, citing diabetes and hypertension, underscoring the need for medical attention upon her return. A source close to Sandiford expressed her urgent desire to reunite with her family after enduring more than a decade in challenging prison conditions.
Sandiford’s legal ordeal began in 2012 when she landed in Bali from Bangkok, Thailand, and was arrested for drug trafficking. Despite initially claiming coercion by a criminal organization, she later confessed to transporting drugs for a British antiques dealer.
Despite appeals and a change in her narrative, Sandiford was found guilty and sentenced to death in 2013. Recent relaxation of Indonesia’s drug trafficking laws raised hopes for her release. While imprisoned, she gained the nickname “Grandmother” and endured health challenges, including arthritis, in a cramped cell shared with other inmates.
Efforts by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office have been ongoing for over 18 months to secure Sandiford’s return to the UK. Sandiford’s supporters eagerly anticipate her return and emphasize the importance of her receiving necessary medical care and spending time with her family upon arrival.