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A British Grandmother facing the death penalty In Bali for smuggling in large quantities cocaine The man was brought back to Britain from Indonesia on Friday, officials said.
Lindsay Sandiford, 69, Deported along with fellow British citizen Shahab Shahabadi, who was serving a life sentence for drug offences.
The plane carrying them from Bali to London departed around 12.30am on Friday, said Nyoman Gede Surya Mataram, Indonesia’s acting deputy for immigration and reform coordination.
Indonesia has some of the strictest drug laws in the world, with severe penalties, including the death penalty, for serious drug crimes such as trafficking. But it has released several high-profile convicts since last year.
sandiford Was sentenced to death in 2013 kept in the notorious Kerobokan prison For more than a decade.
was British Arrested at Bali’s Denpasar Airport in 2012 When she arrived from Bangkok, Thailand, customs officers found 4.8 kilograms of cocaine, with an estimated street value of £1.6 million, in the lining of her suitcase.
He claimed that a British gang had forced him into trafficking drugsThreatened to kill one of his two sons if he refused to cooperate.
But Indonesian police alleged that the grandmother-of-two was part of an international network that smuggled drugs from countries such as Peru, Colombia and Thailand.
Sandiford and Shahabadi were released on “humanitarian grounds” after the UK government reached an agreement with Indonesia.
“When they first arrive in Britain, the priority will be their health,” said Matthew Downing, Britain’s deputy ambassador to Indonesia.
“So they’ll go through a health assessment, and any treatment and rehabilitation they need.”
Before his return, the Foreign Office spokesperson had told Independent that they were “In close contact with Indonesian authorities” on discussions regarding the couple’s repatriation.
Sandiford and Shahabadi, who were detained in 2014, left jail on Thursday afternoon and made the 45-minute car journey to Denpasar Airport where they were handed over to British Ambassador Dominic Jarry.
Before leaving, Sandiford attended a press conference in a wheelchair at Kerobokan prison but did not speak. He covered his face with his hands.
Mr Downing said Sandiford would be “governed by UK law and procedures”, but added that he would not speculate about any legal proceedings he might face.
He said it was a reciprocal agreement with Indonesia, which meant the Southeast Asian nation could demand the return of its citizens held in Britain, although no requests had yet been made.
Pastor Christine Buckingham visited Sandiford in prison last week and told mirror That she was in “extremely poor health”.
“He is very eager to come back and be with his family after these 13 years,” the pastor said. “She wants to go home and enjoy some creature comforts.”
Asked what Sandiford intended to do after returning to the UK, Ms Buckingham said: “She is very unwell. The most important thing is that she gets home, we need to check her medically and then the plan is to spend as much time as possible with her family,” she said.