British grandmother on Indonesia death row arrives back in London

British Grandmother Returns to London After Death Row Release

Lindsay Sandiford, a 69-year-old British grandmother once sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug smuggling, has returned to the United Kingdom after being freed on humanitarian grounds.

Arrival in London

On November 7, Sandiford arrived at London’s Heathrow Airport, covering her face with a jacket as she was escorted through Terminal 4 in a wheelchair by security personnel. She did not speak to the press.

Background on Case

In 2013, Sandiford was convicted on the Indonesian island of Bali for attempting to smuggle approximately US$2.14 million worth of cocaine into the country. Indonesia enforces some of the most severe drug laws in the world, which have led to multiple death sentences for foreign nationals.

Humanitarian Release

Sandiford’s release was part of a broader initiative by Indonesian authorities to repatriate select prisoners on compassionate grounds. She was freed alongside Shahab Shahabadi, a 36-year-old who had been serving a life sentence for drug-related crimes since 2014.

Official Confirmation

“Their detention will be moved to the United Kingdom,” said I Nyoman Gede Surya Mataram from Indonesia’s Law and Human Rights Ministry during a handover ceremony at Kerobokan Prison on November 6.

Both Sandiford and Shahabadi departed Bali on a Qatar Airways flight to London via Doha, according to officials.

Author’s Summary

Lindsay Sandiford’s return marks the conclusion of a 12-year struggle following her Bali drug trafficking conviction, closed under exceptional humanitarian circumstances.

The Straits Times — 2025-11-07