A British grandmother who has spent more than a decade on death row in Indonesia is set to be repatriated to the UK following reports of an agreement between the two countries. Lindsay Sandiford, 69, was facing execution by firing squad after being convicted of drug trafficking on the Indonesian island of Bali in January 2013.
Sandiford was sentenced to death after authorities discovered cocaine worth an estimated £1.6 million in her possession upon arrival. The grandmother, originally from Redcar, Teesside, admitted to the offences but maintained she had been coerced through threats made against her son's life.
Transfer agreement finalised
Indonesian media reports on Tuesday confirmed that Sandiford, along with fellow British national Shahab Shahabadi, 35, is scheduled for transfer to the UK. An agreement has reportedly been signed between both countries to facilitate the repatriation process.
The transfer could take place within approximately two weeks, according to the reports. Both prisoners are said to be experiencing severe health difficulties whilst in Indonesian custody.
Controversial sentencing
The death sentence imposed on Sandiford was notably more severe than what prosecutors had sought, who had requested only a 15-year prison term. Her case has drawn significant attention due to the disparity between the prosecution's recommendation and the final judgement.
The repatriation would bring an end to more than 11 years of imprisonment for Sandiford, who has consistently maintained that she was forced into drug trafficking through threats against her family members.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
