After enduring 12 challenging years, Lindsay Sandiford, a British grandmother, faced the death penalty in a Bali prison. However, a surprising turn of events has now paved the way for her return to the UK.
Sandiford was sentenced to death in 2013 for carrying cocaine worth $2.14 million (£1.6 million) in her suitcase’s false bottom upon arriving from Thailand. In Indonesia, severe punishments, including death sentences, are common for drug-related crimes, with executions carried out by firing squads.
Prisoners in Indonesia often spend over a decade on death row before facing execution. Sandiford, a former legal secretary, was held in Kerobokan Prison in Bali, awaiting her fate.
In a recent development, an agreement between the Indonesian government and the UK authorities will see Lindsay Sandiford and another British national, Shahab Shahabadi, repatriated. An Indonesian official confirmed the forthcoming transfer following the signing of the necessary arrangements.
During her time in custody, Sandiford engaged in knitting, selling her creations to fund legal battles and teaching fellow inmates her craft. Despite these activities, the prolonged period on death row took a toll on her, leading to a friendship with another inmate, Heather Mack, who was incarcerated for a separate crime.
Mack shared insights into Sandiford’s state of mind, revealing her deep distress upon witnessing the sudden execution of two fellow inmates convicted of drug offenses. Sandiford had expressed a desire for death while facing the grim prospect of execution by firing squad.
Now, after two decades of hardship, Sandiford is on the brink of returning to the UK. The decision follows Bali’s recent relaxation of stringent drug smuggling laws, making Sandiford eligible for release due to her good behavior during her lengthy imprisonment.
An Indonesian government official stated Sandiford’s age as 68, though she may be 69. Sandiford’s release, along with Shahabadi’s, is expected to be announced at a press conference.
Indonesia has been revising its strict anti-drug laws, leading to the release of several individuals serving similar sentences. Sandiford’s confidence in her imminent release is evident as she has begun donating her clothes to fellow inmates.
Foreign Office officials have been actively involved in securing Sandiford’s freedom, with hopes high for her long-awaited return to the UK.