Death Row Grandmother Lindsay Sandiford Returns to UK
Lindsay Sandiford, a 69-year-old British grandmother, feared execution by firing squad before her release from death row in Bali. After 13 years in prison, she has finally arrived back in the UK.
Sandiford was freed under a repatriation agreement between the UK and Indonesia, arriving at Heathrow Airport after a 20-hour flight from Bali via Dubai. The government reportedly paid £600 for her ticket. She appeared frail and covered her face as she was pushed in a wheelchair through the airport to waiting transport.
Background and Health Condition
Convicted of smuggling £1.6 million worth of cocaine into Bali, Sandiford had previously spoken about being given a “second chance” at life with her family in the UK after spending over a decade facing the death penalty.
Indonesian Minister Yusril Mahendra stated that Sandiford is “seriously ill” and has been examined by a British consulate doctor on the island.
Uncertain Future and Legal Status
It remains unclear if Sandiford will serve more time in the UK. Indonesia’s deputy minister for immigration and correctional coordination, I Nyoman Gede Surya Mataram, said:
“In England, she will remain in prison.”
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has not confirmed whether Sandiford will be incarcerated upon her return.
Summary
Lindsay Sandiford’s return to the UK after years on Bali’s death row marks a complex new chapter shaped by health concerns and legal uncertainties.