Death Row Gran to Return to UK After Dodging Execution
Lindsay Sandiford is set to board a flight from Bali to the UK today after spending 13 years on death row for smuggling cocaine.
Flight Details and Journey
The 69-year-old pensioner, who was sentenced to death in 2013, has been given a £600 plane ticket funded by the UK government. She will have a brief layover before arriving at London Heathrow Airport after an approximately 20-hour journey.
Background and Current Condition
Sandiford, a former legal secretary, was convicted of smuggling £1.6 million worth of cocaine into Indonesia. She has endured harsh conditions in one of the world’s most notorious prisons.
"Lindsay is extremely unwell. She is desperate to get home and to be with her family. More than a decade in one of the world's worst prisons has taken its toll on her and she wants nothing more than to get back to the UK."
Companion's Case and Transfer Process
Sandiford is scheduled to leave Kerobokan jail this afternoon along with Shahab Shahabadi, a fellow UK national. Shahabadi has been imprisoned since June 2014 and is serving a life sentence for drug offenses.
After leaving prison, they will travel by car for 45 minutes to Denpasar International Airport, where they will be handed over to UK Ambassador Dominic Jermey. Before boarding the flight, they will face the media one last time and be accompanied by British officials.
Author's Summary
Lindsay Sandiford’s long ordeal on death row ends as she finally heads home to the UK, frail but hopeful for reunification with her family.