A British woman facing execution by firing squad in Indonesia for drug smuggling is to be repatriated under an agreement between the two nations. Lindsay Sandiford, 68, has been on death row in Bali since 2012 after authorities found 3.8kg of cocaine hidden in her suitcase at the airport.
During her trial, Sandiford claimed she was forced to carry the drugs by a gang that threatened her children. Despite her sentence being upheld by Indonesia's highest court in 2013, a repatriation deal signed on Tuesday between Indonesian minister Yusril Mahendra and UK foreign secretary Yvette Cooper will see her transferred to the UK.
Also included in the agreement is Shahab Shahabadi, 35, a British-Iranian serving a life sentence since 2014 for sending 30kg of methamphetamine to Jakarta. Mahendra noted Sandiford's serious illness, stating she has been examined by a doctor from the British consulate in Bali.
The transfer will occur after both countries complete technical and administrative steps. Indonesia, under President Prabowo Subianto, has recently repatriated several foreign prisoners, including a Filipina on death row and five Australians convicted of heroin trafficking.
Indonesia remains a major drug smuggling hub, with about 530 people on death row, mostly for drug crimes, including nearly 100 foreigners. The last executions were carried out in July 2016.
