A British grandmother who faced execution by firing squad in Indonesia is reportedly set to be repatriated to the UK following an agreement between the two countries. Lindsay Sandiford, 69, has been on death row in Bali since January 2013 for drug trafficking.
Sandiford was sentenced to death after being found with cocaine worth an estimated £1.6 million upon her arrival on the Indonesian island. The grandmother, originally from Redcar, Teesside, admitted the offences but claimed she had been coerced through threats to her son's life.
Transfer agreement reached
Media reports from Indonesia on Tuesday indicated that Sandiford, alongside fellow British national Shahab Shahabadi, 35, is set to be transferred to the UK. An agreement has reportedly been signed by both countries to facilitate the repatriation.
The death sentence imposed on Sandiford was notably harsher than what prosecutors had requested, who had only asked for a 15-year jail term. Her case has drawn attention due to the severity of the punishment compared to the original prosecution demands.
Health concerns and timeline
Both Sandiford and Shahabadi are said to be suffering from severe health difficulties whilst in Indonesian custody. Reports suggest the pair could be returned to the UK within approximately two weeks.
The repatriation would end more than a decade of imprisonment for Sandiford, who has maintained that she was forced into drug trafficking through threats against her family.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
