British grandmother loses death sentence appeal

The Government has said it is disappointed that Briton Lindsay Sandiford has lost her appeal against her death sentence for drug smuggling in Bali.

• UK government calls decision to reject Lindsay Sandiford’s appeal against death setence is “disappointed”

• Sandiford was convicted in Indonesia for smuggling £1.6 million of cocaine

The Foreign Office also reiterated the UK’s opposition to the death penalty and said it had repeatedly made representations to the Indonesian government about this case.

It was announced today that a court in Bali had upheld the death sentence against Sandiford, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, after she was convicted of smuggling £1.6 million worth of cocaine.

After being sentenced to death by firing squad in January, the 56-year-old grandmother lodged an appeal against the decision but that has now been rejected.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are disappointed to hear that Lindsay Sandiford’s appeal has been refused by the High Court in Bail.

“The UK strongly opposes the death penalty and has repeatedly made representations to the Indonesian government on this matter.

“We will continue to provide consular assistance at this difficult time.”

The court spokesman in Bali said the verdict was decided last week and

Sandiford has 14 days to appeal to the national Supreme Court.

Sandiford, originally from Redcar, Teesside, was arrested in May when

8.4lb (3.8kg) of cocaine were discovered in her luggage at Bali’s airport.

She previously told the court that she only became involved in the smuggling because “the lives of my children were in danger”.

Four other defendants, three Britons and an Indian national, were sentenced to jail terms ranging from one to six years.