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Everything we know about British gran on death row for 12 years in Bali as major update is shared
A 69-year-old British grandmother has spent over a decade on death row in Indonesia following her arrest in 2012 for smuggling drugs into the country.
Originally from Redcar, England, Lindsay Sandiford's case has drawn international attention due to the severity of her sentence and her claims of coercion by a criminal gang.
In May 2012, Sandiford was detained at Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport after authorities found approximately 11 pounds of cocaine in her luggage, valued at around £1.6 million.
During her trial, Sandiford stated she was pressured into carrying the drugs by a gang that allegedly threatened her children’s lives. Despite these claims and her defense team arguing she had been coerced, Sandiford was convicted of drug trafficking in January 2013 and sentenced to death by firing squad.
The details of Sandiford's arrest and trial
Sandiford's arrest came after she traveled to Bali from Bangkok, Thailand, where she had been living since relocating from Cheltenham, England, in 2012. Authorities discovered the drugs concealed within the lining of her suitcase. Sandiford’s defense suggested she was forced to smuggle the cocaine under duress, yet this argument did not sway the court.
In a statement to the court, Sandiford expressed her remorse: “I would like to begin by apologising to the Republic of Indonesia and the Indonesian people for my involvement. I would never have become involved in something like this but the lives of my children were in danger and I felt I had to protect them.”
Despite the emotional testimony and the defense's efforts, Sandiford's death sentence was upheld. For much of the time following her conviction, Sandiford remained in Kerobokan Prison in Bali, where she earned the nickname "grandmother" among other inmates and took on the role of teaching knitting to some of her fellow prisoners.
Sandiford’s repatriation to the UK
After spending 12 years on death row, Sandiford has received an unexpected update. She has now been granted her freedom and is set to return to the United Kingdom. This breakthrough came as part of a repatriation agreement between the British and Indonesian governments.
An Indonesian government source confirmed the arrangement, stating via The Mirror, “The practical arrangement will be signed today. The transfer will be done immediately after the technical side of the transfer is agreed.” Sandiford will be accompanied by another British national, Shahab Shahabadi, as they both return to their home country.
This significant development follows a change in Indonesian law earlier in the year that raised hopes for Sandiford's release. The repatriation marks the conclusion of a lengthy and challenging chapter for the British grandmother, who had faced the constant threat of execution during her years on death row.