Lindsay Sandiford weeps in court as she is sentenced to death by firing squad (Picture: AFP/Getty)

The UK government has said it ‘strongly objects’ to the death sentence handed to a British grandmother by an Indonesian court for drug trafficking.

There were audible gasps of shock in court in Bali while Lindsay Sandiford wept when she was told she would be executed by firing squad.

Foreign Office minister Hugo Swire told MPs on Tuesday afternoon there were two avenues of appeal open for the 56-year-old, originally from Redcar in Teesside, as well as potential presidential clemency.

‘We are aware that Lindsay Sandiford is facing the death penalty in Indonesia. We strongly object to the death penalty and continue to provide consular assistance to Lindsay and her family during this difficult time,’ Mr Swire said.




Sandiford was arrested last May after arriving on a flight from Bangkok, Thailand, with 10.6lb (4.8kg) of cocaine, with a street value of $2.5million (£1.58million), lining her suitcase.

She claims to have been coerced into acting as a mule for drug traffickers and that she feared her children were in danger, while human rights charity Reprieve said Sandiford had been exploited due to mental health issues.

Prosecutors had sought a 15-year sentence but a panel of judges said she had shown no remorse despite damaging Bali’s reputation as a tourist destination and weakening the Indonesian government’s programme of combating drug smuggling.

‘We found no reason to lighten her sentence,’ lead judge Amser Simanjuntak said.

Lindsay Sandiford was arrested last May (Picture: AFP/Getty)

Sandiford was arrested along with three other Britons. Paul Beales was sentenced last year to four years for possession and Rachel Dougall was jailed for one year for failing to report a crime.

The drug possession trial of Julian Ponder meanwhile is still taking place. He is alleged to have collected cocaine from Sandiford.

Five foreigners have been executed since 1998 under Indonesia’s ultra-strict drug laws, according to Australia’s Lowy Institute for International Policy, but no one of any nationality has been put to death since 2008, when ten executions were carried out.

A university professor and expert on women in the international drug trade who submitted expert evidence during Sandiford’s trial said she was shocked by the ‘completely disproportionate’ sentence.

Jennifer Fleetwood, a lecturer in criminology at the University of Kent, said: ‘The prosecution had asked for 15 years, which I considered to be high but not unexpected, so it’s very surprising that the judge has imposed a punishment higher than what the prosecution asked for.

‘Everyone involved is very shocked. We thought 15 years would be the maximum. I reviewed evidence from the case and her testimony suggests that she worked as a drug mule.

‘They take the risk, sometimes they make money, but if they are being threatened they may well get nothing.

‘I have spoken to drug traffickers and drug mules and everyone says the role is minor. They often won’t know what it is they are carrying and are told it is gold or money.’

Lindsay Sandiford was targeted by criminal gangs, Reprieve claims (Picture: PA/File)

The lecturer, who is based at the university’s school of social policy, sociology and social research, said the 56-year-old could have been targeted because of poor health.



‘Lindsay has a history of poor mental health which may have made her particularly vulnerable,’ she said.

‘She is quite well travelled as well so she had an international passport which means she could be someone useful for a drug trafficker to know.

‘There appears to be strong evidence that suggests she was threatened and coerced and her sentence is very surprising and completely disproportionate.’

Human rights charity Reprieve, which had been assisting Sandiford, said the UK government should support any appeal.

Investigator Harriet McCulloch said: ‘Lindsay has always maintained that she only agreed to carry the package to Bali after receiving threats against the lives of her family.

‘She is clearly not a drug kingpin – she has no money to pay for a lawyer, for the travel costs of defence witnesses or even for essentials like food and water.’

Ms McCulloch went on to say: ‘She has cooperated fully with the Indonesian authorities but has been sentenced to death while the gang operating in the UK, Thailand and Indonesia remain free to target other vulnerable people.

‘Lindsay must file an appeal within the next 14 days and it is vital that the British government do everything possible to support Lindsay’s appeal against the death sentence.’