Bali Drugs Mule Grandmother Returns to UK After Years on Death Row
Lindsay Sandiford, 69, has returned to the UK after spending 12 years on death row in Indonesia for smuggling £1.6 million worth of cocaine into Bali.
Background and Sentence
In 2012, at age 56, Sandiford admitted to smuggling drugs into Indonesia but stated she was coerced by an international drug syndicate that threatened her family if she refused. The following year, she was sentenced to death by firing squad.
Time on Death Row and Release
Sandiford endured harsh prison conditions for over a decade before a humanitarian agreement allowed for her release last month.
Return to the UK
After a 20-hour flight with a layover, she arrived at London Heathrow Airport on a government-paid £600 ticket, marking her first time in the UK in more than ten years.
"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."
A source added that Sandiford is "desperate" to reunite with her family and receive urgent medical care. Before her release, she bid farewell to fellow inmates who had become like family to her.
Summary
Lindsay Sandiford’s release signals a rare humanitarian resolution after more than a decade on death row, as she now faces ongoing recovery and family reunification in the UK.
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