Frail drug courier Lindsay Sandiford has been saved from facing death in Bali following an appeal by Keir Starmer due to concerns about her health, as reported by the Mirror. The 69-year-old legal secretary, sentenced to death in 2013 for smuggling £1.6m worth of cocaine, is set to return to the UK after spending 12 years in Indonesia’s Kerobokan prison. She claimed she was coerced by a UK drug ring to traffic drugs from Thailand.
Indonesian authorities have approved her repatriation, citing her severe illness after British doctors conducted a medical assessment. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper personally urged Indonesia to allow Sandiford’s return. A meeting to finalize her release is expected soon, with plans for her handover to UK officials at the airport.
Indonesia’s senior law and human rights minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra confirmed Sandiford’s serious health condition. He stated that both the Foreign Secretary and the British Prime Minister formally requested President Prabowo Subianto for the transfer of Sandiford and another prisoner back to the UK. The agreement has been signed, with Sandiford set to be accompanied by Shahab Shahabadi, a 35-year-old serving a life sentence for drug-related crimes.
Sandiford, who had been residing in India before her arrest in Bali in 2012, faced drug trafficking charges after being caught with cocaine in her possession. Despite initially claiming coercion by a criminal gang, she later confessed to transporting drugs for individuals in Bali. Her legal attempts to appeal her sentence were unsuccessful, leading to her conviction.
Renowned human rights barrister Dr. Felicity Gerry KC, a supporter of Sandiford, emphasized the need for her immediate release upon arrival in the UK. With a potential remaining prison term to serve in the UK, Dr. Gerry argued that Sandiford’s lengthy detention should warrant her release upon repatriation. She highlighted the importance of international cooperation in this case and the impact of prolonged imprisonment on Sandiford’s well-being.
Sandiford’s ordeal on death row and her acceptance of potential execution or prolonged imprisonment in Indonesia’s harsh prison conditions have drawn attention to her case. Her return to the UK signifies a significant development in a long-standing legal battle, with hopes for her swift release and rehabilitation post-incarceration.