UK 'objects' to Bali death sentence

Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire has told MPs the Government "strongly object to the death penalty" after a British woman was sentenced to be executed for drug trafficking in Indonesia.

Lindsay Sandiford, 56, originally from Redcar in Teesside, was arrested in May last year after police in Bali said they found 10.6lb (4.8kg) of cocaine worth £1.6 million in the lining of her suitcase.

Mr Swire told the Commons she had at least two further avenues of appeal through the courts and also the chance to apply for presidential clemency.

He said: "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 "repeated representations" had been made to the Indonesian authorities and Foreign Secretary William Hague had raised the case with his counterpart in the country.

He added: "We understand that under Indonesian law, Lindsay has at least two further avenues of appeal through the courts as well as an opportunity to apply for presidential clemency should these be unsuccessful."

Sandiford previously lived in Liberal Democrat Martin Horwood's Cheltenham constituency. He raised the issue with ministers at Foreign Office questions in the Commons.

He said drug trafficking was an "evil trade" but the sentence was "out of keeping with Indonesia's historic progress towards democracy and human rights".

The MP claimed Sandiford had "struggled with legal representation" and called for her to receive the "best possible consular support" from UK officials in Indonesia.

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-office(Foreign & Commonwealth Office)