Bali Drugs Mule Grandmother Returns to UK After Years on Death Row
Lindsay Sandiford, 69, has returned to the UK following 13 years spent awaiting execution in Indonesia for drug smuggling. She is reportedly eager to reunite with her family but may face further imprisonment.
Background and Conviction
At age 56, Sandiford admitted to smuggling £1.6 million worth of cocaine into Bali in 2012. She claimed that an international drug syndicate coerced her by threatening her family if she refused to cooperate. In 2013, she was sentenced to death by firing squad and endured harsh prison conditions for years.
Release and Return
Last month, a humanitarian agreement facilitated her release. Sandiford then flew to London Heathrow Airport on a government-funded £600 ticket after a 20-hour journey including a layover. This marked her first time back on British soil in over a decade.
Health and Family Reunion
Sources report she is "desperate" to return home and receive urgent medical care, as she has become seriously ill during her imprisonment.
"Doctors have assessed Lindsay and determined she's very unwell. She has spent 12 years in one of the worst prisons in the world and that has taken its toll on her. She's desperate to get home, she's been preparing for months. Before leaving prison she said a farewell to the other prisoners who have become like family to her."
The prison where she was held has had severe conditions, impacting her health and well-being. Her return to the UK signals a critical period for recovery and legal proceedings.
Author's summary: After over a decade on death row for drug smuggling in Indonesia, Lindsay Sandiford has returned to the UK, seriously ill and seeking urgent medical care and family reunion.