For one joyous, 68-year-old British woman—Lindsay Sandiford—she’s already on her way home. She served more than 12 years in a Bali, Indonesia prison for attempting to smuggle heroin. This clause stems from a broader bilateral agreement between the Indonesian government and the UK. In doing so, we aim to stop her execution for the horrible crime she did indeed commit. Sandiford’s case has sparked campaigns worldwide, not least because of her rapid decline in health.
Sandiford, who was arrested at Bali’s airport in 2012, has been incarcerated in Bali since her arrest. Authorities found $2.5 million worth of cocaine hidden inside her suitcase, more than 3.8 kilograms of the drug to be exact. Her death sentence by firing squad was upheld in 2013 by Indonesia’s highest court. This decision sparked extreme outrage among human rights advocates and a wave of national media coverage.
The recent development in Sandiford’s case occurred when she signed a repatriation agreement with Indonesia’s senior law minister, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, on Tuesday. The deal provides her immunity from the death penalty. It now means that she can afford to travel back to the UK for urgent medical treatment for her advanced illness.
Yvette Cooper, a prominent figure in this situation, commented on Sandiford’s health status, saying, “Both of them are facing problems. The first one is ill and has been examined by a doctor from the British Consulate in Bali. She is seriously ill and is 68 years old.”
The recent Australian government decision to repatriate Sandiford is a surprising turn on her years-long legal saga. For more than a decade, she’s fought against her death sentence. As her health has sharply deteriorated during her incarceration, she has consistently requested the need for medical attention.