**Lindsay Sandiford: Drug Mule Set for Return to UK After 13 Years** Lindsay Sandiford, a 69-year-old British woman sentenced to death for drug smuggling, is set to board a flight back to the UK today. Sandiford, who has spent 13 years in Bali's notorious Kerobokan prison, will travel on a £600 ticket funded by the UK government. The frail pensioner, who has been described as being in extremely poor health, is expected to leave the prison this afternoon. She will have a brief layover before arriving at London Heathrow Airport after a 20-hour journey. A source close to Sandiford stated, "Lindsay is extremely unwell. She is desperate to get home and to be with her family." Sandiford was sentenced to death in 2013 after being caught with £1.6 million worth of cocaine in her luggage. She claimed that a UK-based drug syndicate had coerced her into smuggling the drugs from Thailand. Despite her assertions, her appeals were dismissed, and she was convicted. In a significant development last month, a bilateral agreement was reached between the Indonesian and UK governments, allowing for her release due to her serious health issues. Reports indicate that Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper made personal appeals to Indonesian authorities for her return. Pastor Christine Buckingham, who visited Sandiford in prison last week, remarked, "She is in extremely ill health and she's very keen to get back and be with her family after these 13 years." Buckingham expressed gratitude towards both the Indonesian and British governments for facilitating Sandiford's return. Sandiford will leave Kerobokan prison alongside fellow UK national Shahab Shahabadi, who is serving a life sentence for drug offences. The two will be transported to Denpasar International Airport, where they will be handed over to the UK Ambassador, Dominic Jermey. Upon her return to the UK, Sandiford plans to undergo medical checks and spend time with her family. Her case has drawn significant attention over the years, highlighting the harsh realities of drug trafficking laws in Indonesia and the conditions within its prisons. Sandiford's journey began in 2012 when she relocated to India after being evicted from her home in Cheltenham. After arriving in Bali from Bangkok, she was arrested with the cocaine. Initially, she claimed she was forced to carry the drugs by a criminal gang threatening her family. However, her narrative shifted when faced with the possibility of the death penalty, leading to her cooperation with authorities in a sting operation against her co-accused. As she prepares to leave Indonesia, Sandiford's long ordeal appears to be coming to an end, with hopes for a peaceful reunion with her family in the UK.
Lindsay Sandiford: Drug Mule Set for UK Return
Britain News1 hrs ago
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