Posted on 01/22/2013 8:54:52 AM PST by JohnPDuncan
A 56-year-old British grandmother has been sentenced to death by firing squad in Indonesia for drug trafficking.
Lindsay Sandiford was arrested at Bali's airport in May last year after 4.8kg (10.6lb) of cocaine was found in the lining of her suitcase during a routine customs check.
Sandiford, whose last UK address was in Gloucestershire, said she was coerced into bringing the drugs to the island.
Foreign Office minister Hugo Swire has condemned the sentence.
He told MPs the government strongly objected to the death penalty imposed.
Her lawyers have said they were "surprised" at the verdict and would appeal. Prosecutors had recommended a 15-year sentence of imprisonment.
There was an audible gasp of surprise in the courtroom when the verdict was delivered.
Although the maximum penalty for drug trafficking in Indonesia is death, the prosecution had recommended a 15 year sentence, saying Sandiford's age should be taken into consideration and the fact that she has no prior convictions.
But delivering their verdict the judges said there were no mitigating reasons that convinced them they should reduce their sentence.
They added that Mrs Sandiford did not appear to care about the consequences of her actions.
Walking out of the court room the 56-year-old from Gloucestershire appeared shocked, covering her head with a brown sarong, hiding her face from the glare of the cameras.
Her lawyer has said they will definitely appeal. He added it was very rare that judges delivered a sentence that was so much harsher than the prosecution had recommended.
But the judges said there were no mitigating circumstances and the defendant did not appear to care about the consequences of her actions.
They said Sandiford had damaged the image of Bali as a tourism destination and weakened the government's anti-drugs programme.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
Liberaltarians should be dropped off over Indonesia, so they can campaign against the Islamist “war on drugs.”
This reminds me of the movie “Return to Paradise.”
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