The British government has requested that Indonesian prosecutors reconsider the death sentence they have requested for 43-year-old British national Andrea Ruth Waldeck.

Waldeck, an ex-police community supporter officer from the English county of Gloucestershire, is being tried at Surabaya State District court in connection with narcotics distribution offences.



'We have received an official letter from the British Embassy in Jakarta requesting prosecutors reconsider the death penalty request for Andrea. Further, in order to strengthen the argument, the embassy will send an official to testify in Andrea's favor,' Andrea's lawyer Oktavianto Prasongko told The Jakarta Post after the court session on Tuesday.



He said the embassy would present the facts regarding Andrea's role as a community police officer and social worker who dealt with drug addicts while serving in the UK.



'Most important is the fact she has never been involved with any crime while serving and living in her country,' Oktavianto said.



Besides Waldeck, the police also arrested two other people in this case, Bayu Pracaka and Hendrik Lesmana. Prosecutor Deddy Agus Oktavianto said the prosecutors would also seek death sentences for both of them in the next court session.



To date, the police are still pursuing Ari Wahyudi and Joe, Waldeck's Nigerian boyfriend, who are still at large. According to Waldeck, Joe gave her the drugs.



Waldeck was arrested by officers from the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) with 1.4 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine worth more than U$20,000 at a hotel in Surabaya, after she passed through airport screenings. (dic)