Death row gran Lindsay Sandiford lands in UK after 13 years in Bali prison

Death Row Grandmother Lindsay Sandiford Returns to the UK

Lindsay Sandiford, a 69-year-old British grandmother once sentenced to death in Bali for drug trafficking, has finally returned to the United Kingdom after spending 13 years behind bars.

Sandiford, who was convicted of smuggling cocaine valued at £1.6 million into Bali, arrived at Heathrow Airport this afternoon following a 20-hour journey from Indonesia via Dubai. Her plane ticket, reportedly costing £600, was covered by the UK government. Upon arrival, she appeared frail and was wheeled through the terminal, covering her face as she was escorted to waiting transport.

“I was given a second chance to live my life with my family in the UK,”

Sandiford previously said after learning she would not face execution in Bali. For 12 years, she lived under the threat of a firing squad before her eventual release under a repatriation arrangement between the UK and Indonesia.

According to Indonesian minister Yusril Mahendra, Sandiford is currently seriously ill and has been examined by a doctor from the British consulate prior to her departure. Questions remain about whether she will serve further time in prison after her return, as deputy minister I Nyoman Gede Surya Mataram remarked:

“In England, she will remain in prison.”

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has not yet clarified her legal status upon arrival.

Author Summary

After 13 years in a Bali prison for drug smuggling, Lindsay Sandiford has returned to the UK severely ill and facing uncertainty over her remaining sentence.

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Metro Metro — 2025-11-07

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