First Picture of Death Row Grandmother Lindsay Sandiford Back on British Soil
Lindsay Sandiford, 69, a British grandmother convicted 13 years ago of smuggling £1.6 million worth of cocaine into Bali, has returned to the UK. She was seen arriving at Heathrow's Terminal 4 on Friday.
Sandiford appeared in a wheelchair, dressed in black leggings and a green cardigan, covering her face with her clothing. She left Indonesia early on Friday after being spared execution thanks to a humanitarian deal between Jakarta and London.
The British government reportedly spent £600 on her plane ticket home.
Handover Ceremony and Repatriation
Before boarding her flight in Bali, Sandiford attended a handover ceremony at Kerobokan Prison. She departed alongside fellow British prisoner Shabab Shahabadi, 35, who was serving a life sentence for drug offenses.
They were driven to Denpasar International Airport, where British Ambassador Dominic Jeremy was expected to receive them before their flight.
Official Statement
"Lindsay Sandiford and Shahab Shahabadi have serious health conditions and are being repatriated on humanitarian grounds." – Matthew Downing, UK Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia
The repatriation reflects a rare cooperation between Indonesia and the UK concerning prisoners on death row with urgent health issues.
Author's summary: Lindsay Sandiford’s return to Britain marks a humanitarian resolution after 13 years on Indonesia's death row, highlighting diplomatic efforts in prisoner repatriation cases.