Who is Lindsay Sandiford? British grandmother freed from Bali death row after 13 years

After more than a decade behind bars in Indonesia, Lindsay Sandiford, a British grandmother from Redcar, Teesside, is finally being released from Kerobokan Prison in Bali. The 69-year-old had been on death row since 2013 for smuggling 4.8 kilograms of cocaine into the island.

An Indonesian government source confirmed to AFP that an agreement with the UK government has been reached to allow her return home — ending one of Britain’s most high-profile international drug cases.

Who is Lindsay Sandiford?

Lindsay Sandiford is a British woman and grandmother-of-two who became the center of global attention in 2012, when she was arrested at Denpasar Airport in Bali. Customs officers discovered a hidden compartment in her suitcase carrying cocaine worth £1.6 million.

She arrived on a flight from Bangkok, and soon after, Indonesian police accused her of being part of an international drug network operating across Peru, Colombia, Thailand, and Indonesia.

However, Sandiford insisted that she was forced by a British drug gang to smuggle the drugs. She said the gang had threatened to kill her son if she refused to cooperate.

Lindsay Sandiford’s trial and death sentence

Following her arrest, Sandiford cooperated with Indonesian authorities and provided information about other suspects. Despite this, she was sentenced to death by firing squad on January 22, 2013.

The court claimed she played a “key role” in the operation, even though prosecutors had recommended a 15-year prison term instead of death. Sandiford later appealed the sentence multiple times, but each appeal was rejected by Indonesian courts.

Her legal battle became one of the most controversial drug cases involving a British citizen overseas. The UK government refused to fund her appeal, saying it was against its policy to pay for legal representation in foreign criminal cases.

Life in Kerobokan Prison

Kerobokan Prison, where Sandiford spent over a decade, is one of Indonesia’s most overcrowded and feared facilities, housing around 1,000 inmates.

In a 2019 interview, Sandiford said she had found peace despite her situation, spending her days knitting and reflecting on her life. “In spite of everything, I feel blessed,” she said. “I’ve lived long enough to see my sons grow into fine men and meet my grandchildren.”

However, reports from other inmates described her as isolated and withdrawn, rarely mixing with others. Fellow prisoner Heather Mack once said that Sandiford “spends most of her time alone” and “has said she wants to die.”

Support from human rights groups

Over the years, human rights lawyers and campaigners repeatedly called for Sandiford’s release. In March 2024, barrister Felicity Gerry KC, who had visited her in prison, urged both governments to negotiate her return.

She said Indonesia should “take active steps” to let Sandiford either serve her sentence in the UK or be considered for release due to her age and good behavior.

Freedom after 13 years

Now, after 13 years in custody, Sandiford is set to return to the UK. Indonesian officials said her release follows a diplomatic understanding between the two governments. If all goes as planned, she could be home as early as Tuesday.

Her release marks the end of a long, painful chapter — one filled with legal battles, isolation, and public attention. For Sandiford, it’s the chance to finally rebuild her life after years under the threat of execution.

Other foreigners jailed in Bali

Sandiford’s case is one among several involving foreigners arrested for drug trafficking in Indonesia. The “Bali Nine”, a group of Australians caught smuggling heroin in 2005, made global headlines after two members, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, were executed in 2015.

Others from the group served nearly two decades before being released in 2024. Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said their return marked “the end of a painful era.”