British grandmother’s death sentence for cocaine smuggling upheld by Indonesian court

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

British grandmother’s death sentence for cocaine smuggling upheld by Indonesian court
By: The Associated Press, Published on Mon Apr 08 2013


BALI, INDONESIA—An Indonesian court upheld the death sentence against a British woman convicted of smuggling $2.5 million worth of cocaine into the resort island of Bali, a court official said Monday.

The Bali High Court rejected an appeal from Lindsay June Sandiford, 56, who was convicted in January by a district court and sentenced to face a firing squad, said court spokesman Makkasau. The decision on her appeal came last week, and Sandiford has 14 days to appeal to the national Supreme Court, said Makkasau, who uses only one name like many Indonesians.

UK grandmother to face firing squad

Sandiford was arrested last May when 3.8 kilograms (8.4 pounds) of cocaine was discovered stuffed inside the lining of her luggage at Bali's airport. During the trial, she said she was forced to carry the drugs by a gang that threatened to hurt her children.

Prosecutors had sought 15 years in prison for Sandiford, but the court surprised many by issuing the death sentence.


Read more: http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/04/08/indonesia_court_upholds_death_sentence_for_british_grandmother_convicted_of_smuggling_cocaine.html

[brooklynite]

1. Not surprising

East Asian countries (including Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia) have had a well known zero-tolerance policy on drug trafficking for decades.

[iandhr]

2. Noted. But the prosecutor wanted 15 years as it was stated in the article.

[slackmaster]

3. She made some poor choices.

[LeftishBrit]

6. So did Indonesia. Having the death penalty at all, and especially for crimes other than murder, is

a very poor choice indeed.

[Agnosticsherbet]

9. The death penalty for any crime is barbaric.

It just increases the violent risk that drug smuggiing already carries.

[Downtown Hound]

4. Barbaric. n/t

[ehrnst]

5. Would they have said "British Grandfather" if it had been a man?

I doubt it. Men aren't defined by their marital status or parenthood status.

[LeftishBrit]

7. In British media these days, they often do (nt)

[ForgoTheConsequence]

8. Oh?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/it-nearly-took-my-leg-off-british-grandfather-on-holiday-in-australia-grabbed-shark-by-tail-to-save-bathers-8459444.html

http://www.anorak.co.uk/345416/news/irish-grandpa-steals-from-dead-hmv-when-it-refuses-his-gift-voucher.html/

[Agnosticsherbet]

10. very good post

[LiberalLovinLug]

11. It is even more barbaric and tragic

..if she was actually telling the truth...that she was forced to do it under threat of harm to her children.

[elias7]

12. why the use of "grandmother" in most of the news stories?

Why not "granddaughter" as she had two grandparents herself. How about "mother of two and grandmother", or sister, glasses-wearer, apartment evictee, India resident, dumbass, etc...

grandmother implies elderly and infirm, two things this woman is not, as appears to be attempting to engender sympathy. Probably a call to generate a public opinion groundswell...oh well.

[cyberswede]

13. I agree. nt

[Art_from_Ark]

14. I think the use of the term "grandmother"

implies that the woman has matured enough to understand that smuggling drugs in a foreign country can carry harsh penalties. By the time they reach that age, I think that, unless there are extenuating circumstances, most women are extremely averse to committing crimes of that nature, especially in a country that provides for such barbaric punishments.