Lindsay Sandiford, a British woman who spent twelve years on Indonesian death row for drug trafficking, has been flown back to the United Kingdom, Indonesian officials confirmed early Friday. Her flight departed Bali at approximately 00:30 local time (16:30 GMT Thursday).
Sandiford’s repatriation, along with that of another British national, Shahabadi, comes on “humanitarian grounds” as both women were reportedly suffering from significant health issues while incarcerated. Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Indonesia’s senior law and human rights minister, stated last month that Sandiford was “seriously ill,” while Shahabadi faced “various serious illnesses, including mental health issues,” according to the AFP news agency.
Sandiford appeared at a press conference in a wheelchair at the Bali prison just hours before her departure. She had admitted to carrying cocaine in 2013, but claimed she was coerced into doing so after a drug syndicate threatened her son.
UK Deputy ambassador to Indonesia, Matthew Downing, stated that Sandiford and Shahabadi will receive necessary medical treatment upon their return, and will be “governed by the law and procedures of the UK.”
Sandiford’s case garnered international attention, highlighting the strict drug laws in Indonesia. In December 2024, Indonesia repatriated the five remaining members of the “Bali Nine” drug ring, who had served nearly 20 years in Indonesian prisons. The ringleaders of that group were executed by firing squad in 2015.
The repatriation of Sandiford and Shahabadi follows a similar move in december, when Filipina Mary Jane Veloso was returned to the Philippines. Veloso, a mother of two, had maintained she was deceived into carrying drugs and faced a near-execution.
