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Drug smuggler Lindsay Sandiford loses appeal for legal funds Drug smuggler Lindsay Sandiford loses appeal for legal funds
(35 minutes later)
A British woman convicted in Bali of drug smuggling has lost her appeal over a UK government refusal to fund her legal challenge against a death sentence. A British grandmother convicted in Bali of drug smuggling has lost her appeal over a UK government refusal to fund her legal challenge against a death sentence.
Lindsay Sandiford, 56, of Cheltenham, was sentenced by a court in Bali for smuggling 4.8kg (10.6lb) of cocaine.Lindsay Sandiford, 56, of Cheltenham, was sentenced by a court in Bali for smuggling 4.8kg (10.6lb) of cocaine.
Her lawyers said she needed £6,000 for an appeal to Indonesia's Supreme Court.Her lawyers said she needed £6,000 for an appeal to Indonesia's Supreme Court.
The Foreign Office has a policy of not providing legal representation for Britons arrested overseas. Judges at the UK's Court of Appeal dismissed her case, saying the reasons would be given "as soon as possible".
Sandiford was arrested after a flight from Thailand in May 2012 and accused of being at the centre of a drugs ring.Sandiford was arrested after a flight from Thailand in May 2012 and accused of being at the centre of a drugs ring.
'Fully exhausted'
Following her conviction earlier this year, the prosecution recommended a prison sentence of 15 years but judges later sentenced Sandiford to death by firing squad.Following her conviction earlier this year, the prosecution recommended a prison sentence of 15 years but judges later sentenced Sandiford to death by firing squad.
Her lawyers told London's Court of Appeal on Monday that Sandiford needed about £8,000 for her next appeal in Indonesia. 'Troubling case'
Her lawyers earlier told the Court of Appeal in London that Sandiford needed about £8,000 for her next appeal in Indonesia.
They said £2,000 had already been found, but about £6,000 was still needed from the UK government as money from private sources was "fully exhausted".They said £2,000 had already been found, but about £6,000 was still needed from the UK government as money from private sources was "fully exhausted".
The UK government has refused to fund her legal challenge as a matter of policy - and in January, High Court judges agreed the government was not legally obliged to pay for "an adequate lawyer" to represent her.The UK government has refused to fund her legal challenge as a matter of policy - and in January, High Court judges agreed the government was not legally obliged to pay for "an adequate lawyer" to represent her.
On Monday, three senior judges - Lord Justice Elias, Lord Justice Patten, and the Master of the Rolls, Lord Dyson - dismissed her attempts to challenge that ruling. On Monday, Lord Justice Elias, Lord Justice Patten, and the Master of the Rolls, Lord Dyson dismissed her attempts to challenge that ruling.
Earlier, Aidan O'Neill, appearing for Sandiford, told the court it was reasonable to expect the Foreign Office to provide funding and the case was of "overwhelming importance" because it involved the death penalty. Lord Dyson said the court had given "very careful consideration" to the issues raised in what he described as a "troubling" case and a "terribly serious matter".
He argued: "It also raises issues of significant public interest, concerning the extent to which fundamental rights protection can be claimed against the UK government by UK nationals when abroad, and specifically in non-European countries." He said it was "most unfortunate" that the sum required to secure the representation sought by the appellant was "relatively speaking" a "very small sum indeed".
"But that cannot affect the principle that we have had to consider and it cannot affect our decision," he added.
"It may be that other means may be found to secure the relatively small sum in the course of the next few days."
Rosa Curling, a solicitor with law firm Leigh Day, which is representing Sandiford, said outside court: "We are obviously very disappointed by the decision and we will consider with our client once we have received the reasoning of the court whether to appeal to the Supreme Court."
'Firing squad'
Earlier, Aidan O'Neill, appearing for Sandiford, told the court it was reasonable to expect the Foreign Office to provide funding.
Mr O'Neill said the government's claim to have "a long-standing policy" not to provide funding was not true and it had in the past provided financial assistance, in exceptional circumstances, to prepare legal proceedings.Mr O'Neill said the government's claim to have "a long-standing policy" not to provide funding was not true and it had in the past provided financial assistance, in exceptional circumstances, to prepare legal proceedings.
However, Foreign Office lawyers said "it does not operate a legal aid scheme to cover legal expenses for British nationals involved in criminal proceedings abroad, nor does it provide funds in exceptional cases".However, Foreign Office lawyers said "it does not operate a legal aid scheme to cover legal expenses for British nationals involved in criminal proceedings abroad, nor does it provide funds in exceptional cases".
'Firing squad' They said the government made grants to charities, such as human rights charity Reprieve, to assist people charged with capital offences and, in appropriate cases, to make state-to-state representations.
They said the government makes grants to charities, such as human rights charity Reprieve, to assist people charged with capital offences and, in appropriate cases, to make state-to-state representations. Zoe Bedford, of the charity Reprieve, which has supported Sandiford's case, said: "Never has there been a clearer example of how the death penalty falls predominantly on those who do not have the funds to defend themselves."
Reprieve has supported Sandiford's case, with investigator Zoe Bedford saying: "Lindsay long ago ran out of money for paying her legal fees.
"She now potentially faces the firing squad simply because she has no money to hire a lawyer for her appeal.
"Never has there been a clearer example of how the death penalty falls predominantly on those who do not have the funds to defend themselves."
Sandiford was originally from Redcar in Teesside but her last UK address was in Gloucestershire.Sandiford was originally from Redcar in Teesside but her last UK address was in Gloucestershire.