Jakarta, Indonesia — Indonesia has signed an agreement to repatriate two British nationals, including a grandmother who has spent over a decade on death row for drug trafficking, the government confirmed Tuesday. The announcement comes amid a broader push by Indonesia to transfer high-profile foreign inmates to their home countries.

Lindsay Sandiford’s Case

Lindsay Sandiford, in her late 60s, was sentenced to death in Bali in 2013 after being convicted of smuggling cocaine into Indonesia. Customs officials discovered cocaine worth an estimated $2.14 million hidden in a false compartment in her suitcase upon arrival from Thailand in 2012.

Sandiford admitted her involvement but claimed she was coerced by a drug syndicate threatening her son’s life. Despite her defense, she lost her appeal against the death sentence in 2013, drawing widespread media attention in the UK.

Repatriation Agreement

Senior Law and Human Rights Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra announced that Indonesia had signed a transfer deal with British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper, allowing Sandiford and another British prisoner, Shahab Shahabadi, to serve their sentences in the UK. Shahabadi, 35, is serving a life sentence for drug offenses after his arrest in 2014.

“The transfers of the prisoners to the UK have been agreed and the agreement has been signed,” Yusril told reporters in Jakarta. Government sources indicated the handover would occur immediately after technical arrangements are finalized.

It remains unclear whether Sandiford will stay at Kerobokan Prison, Bali’s most notorious and overcrowded facility, prior to transfer, or be moved to another location.

Background: Indonesia’s Strict Drug Laws

Indonesia is known for having some of the world’s toughest drug laws, with dozens of foreigners currently on death row for drug offenses. The country last carried out executions in 2016, using firing squads to execute one Indonesian citizen and three Nigerian nationals.

President Prabowo Subianto’s administration has repatriated multiple high-profile inmates since taking office in October last year. These include:

• Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina, repatriated in December after nearly 15 years on death row.
• Serge Atlaoui, a French national, returned in February after 18 years facing execution.

Personal Impact and Public Attention

Sandiford’s case gained attention in the UK tabloids, including a 2015 article in which she described her fear of imminent execution. “My execution is imminent, and I know I might die at any time now. I could be taken tomorrow from my cell,” she wrote, adding that she had begun writing goodbye letters to her family.

She also recounted her time in prison befriending Andrew Chan, an Australian member of the “Bali Nine” drug smuggling ring, who was executed by firing squad.

Future Implications

Indonesia’s decision to repatriate Sandiford reflects a trend toward humanitarian transfers for foreign nationals while maintaining strict domestic enforcement of drug laws. Currently, more than 90 foreigners remain on death row, all for drug-related crimes. Authorities have indicated that executions may resume in the future, highlighting the country’s ongoing zero-tolerance stance.