A 69-year-old woman, Lindsay Sandiford, who was spared the death penalty despite being convicted as a drugs mule in 2013, is set to fly back to the UK today with a paid £600 plane ticket. Sandiford, a former legal secretary, was given the UK-funded seat to depart Bali this afternoon, ending a 13-year ordeal in which she awaited execution for smuggling £1.6 million worth of cocaine into Indonesia.
Sandiford, along with another UK national, Shahab Shahabadi, will leave Kerobokan jail this afternoon and be transferred to Denpasar International Airport for their flight to London Heathrow Airport after a short layover. The UK Ambassador Dominic Jermey will oversee their handover to British officials before their departure.
Sandiford had initially claimed she was coerced by a UK-based drug syndicate to transport the drugs, but later changed her story when faced with the death penalty threat. Despite appeals citing her mental health issues and coercion, she was found guilty and sentenced to death. However, a recent agreement between Indonesia and the UK Government secured her release due to her deteriorating health condition.
Sandiford’s return to the UK has been long awaited by her family and supporters, who are relieved that she will finally be reunited with them after enduring harsh conditions in Bali’s Kerobokan prison. Sandiford’s case gained attention as Indonesia relaxed its strict drug trafficking laws and ceased executions in recent years. In prison, she was known as “Grandmother” and spent her time teaching others to knit, despite battling arthritis and living in cramped conditions.
Sandiford’s journey back to the UK marks the end of a challenging chapter in her life, and she is eager to receive medical attention and reunite with her family after more than a decade of imprisonment.