UK Grandmother on Indonesia Death Row Returns to London
A British grandmother, Lindsay Sandiford, who was on death row for smuggling $2.14 million worth of cocaine into Indonesia, arrived back in the UK on Friday, according to AFP correspondents.
Background and Sentencing
Sandiford, aged 69, was sentenced to death in 2013 on the tourist island of Bali after being convicted of drug trafficking. Indonesia enforces some of the world’s strictest drug laws.
Recent Developments
In the past year, Indonesia has released several high-profile detainees. Sandiford was freed on humanitarian grounds, alongside Shahab Shahabadi, 36, who had been serving a life sentence for drug offenses since his arrest in 2014.
Return Journey and Legal Context
Both Sandiford and Shahabadi flew from Bali to London via Doha on a Qatar Airways flight, confirmed by an official from Indonesia's law and human rights ministry.
Sandiford left Heathrow’s Terminal 4 in a wheelchair, accompanied by security staff, covering her face with her jacket and remaining silent.
「Their detention will be moved to the United Kingdom under the bilateral deal,」 said I Nyoman Gede Surya Mataram, an official from Indonesia’s ministry, during a handover ceremony at Bali’s Kerobokan jail. 「The United Kingdom government would now be fully responsible for the legal decisions made, but still respecting our legal decisions.」
Summary
The transfer of Lindsay Sandiford to the UK marks a significant moment in Indonesia-UK cooperation on drug-related sentences and reflects humanitarian considerations in her release.
Author’s summary: Lindsay Sandiford, previously on Indonesia’s death row for drug smuggling, was released on humanitarian grounds and transferred to UK custody under a bilateral agreement.