Government Signs Agreement To Return 2 Narcotics Prisoners To UK

Coordinating Minister For Human Development And Human Rights Imipas Yusril Ihza Mahendra And Secretary Of State For Foreign, Commonwealth, And Development Affairs Of The United Kingdom Yvette Cooper/ANTARA/HO-Kemenko Kumham Imipas

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government and the British government signed a practical arrangement agreement regarding the transfer of two British narcotics convicts (Transfer of Sentened Persons/TSP).

The two convicts in question are Lindsay June Sandiford (68 years) and Shahab Shahabadi (35 years). Both are involved in narcotics cases and have served a dozen years in Indonesia.

In a press conference after the signing of the agreement, the Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said that the transfer of the two prisoners was carried out on humanitarian grounds, in line with the principles of protecting human rights which were upheld by the Indonesian government.

"Indonesia views the importance of international cooperation that prioritizes humanity, especially for foreign citizens who face severe health conditions during their criminal period," said Yusril as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, October 21.

He said the next legal process against the two inmates would be delegated to the British government.

The signing was carried out by Coordinating Minister for Kumham Imipas and the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs of the United KingdomYvette Cooper.

The Coordinating Minister said the agreement was a follow-up to legal cooperation between the two countries in the spirit of humanity and respect for human rights, especially for foreign prisoners who are experiencing deteriorating health conditions and need adequate treatment in their home countries.

Lindsay has served her sentence since May 25, 2012 at the Class IIA Women's Correctional Institution (Lapas) Kerobokan, Bali, with a death penalty. She suffers from type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension, and has been in a declining health condition.

Meanwhile, Shahab has been detained since June 26, 2014 at the Class IIA Kembangkuning Prison, Nusakambangan, with a life sentence. He has skin diseases in subcutaneous tissue and mental disorders.

Yusril explained that the practical regulatory process between Indonesia and the UK was carried out with the same mechanism as had been implemented previously between the Indonesian government and a number of other countries, including the Philippines, France, and Australia.

"The mechanism includes exchanging official documents, verifying the legal conditions and health of prisoners, and signing an intergovernmental agreement before the transfer is officially carried out," he said.

The process of transferring two British prisoners began with a meeting between Coordinating Minister Yusril and the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of the UK in January 2025 to discuss the possibility of repatriation of the two inmates.

The discussion continued in April 2025 during a meeting with the British Ambassador to Indonesia, where both parties emphasized humanitarian commitments in the framework of bilateral legal cooperation.

Then on April 29, 2025, the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Human Rights, Imipas RI, received an official letter from the bait Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice which submitted a request for repatriation of the two inmates.

Following up on the letter, a series of technical meetings were held between the Deputy for Immigration and Correctional Coordination of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Rights and the Indonesian Ministry of Human Rights and the Deputy Ambassador of the UK to discuss legal, administrative, and logistics aspects of the transfer.

Through the signing of practical arrangements, the two countries affirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in the field of law and upholding justice, as well as showing that humanitarian diplomacy can coexist with legal certainty.