Bali drugs: death sentence for British grandmother

Published on 23/01/2013 02:24

A woman found guilty of drug trafficking has been sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug trafficking.

Lindsay Sandiford, originally from Redcar in Teesside, was arrested in May after police in Bali said they found 10.6lb of cocaine in the lining of her suitcase.

The 56-year-old has always insisted she was set up and forced to bring the drugs onto the island.

A spokeswoman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “We can confirm that a British national is facing the death penalty in Indonesia.

“We remain in close contact with that national and continue to provide consular assistance.

“The UK remains strongly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances.”

Sandiford was held after a flight from Bangkok, Thailand.

Prosecutors had recommended a 15-year sentence of imprisonment.

But the judges said there were no mitigating circumstances and the defendant did not appear to care about the consequences of her actions.

Ms Sandiford’s lawyers say she plans to appeal.