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British former community support officer begins jail term in Indonesia British former community support officer begins jail term in Indonesia
(35 minutes later)
A British former police community support officer is beginning a 14-year jail sentence in an Indonesian prison for her part in a plot to smuggle crystal methamphetamine into the country. A former police community support officer is beginning a 14-year jail sentence in Indonesia for smuggling crystal methamphetamine into the country.
Friends and supporters of Andrea Waldeck, 43, who worked for Gloucestershire police until 2012, expressed relief that she had escaped the death penalty after her sentencing by Surabaya district court. Friends and supporters of Andrea Waldeck, 43, who worked for Gloucestershire police until 2012, expressed relief that the Briton had been spared the death penalty after her sentencing.
Waldeck was arrested in April last year after drugs worth more than £3,000 were found in her underwear by officials in Indonesia's second biggest city, Surabaya. Waldeck was arrested last April after drugs worth more than £3,000 were found in her underwear by officials in Indonesia's second biggest city, Surabaya.
According to court papers, she claimed she had been asked by her boyfriend, who lives in China, to take the drugs to a contact in Indonesia.According to court papers, she claimed she had been asked by her boyfriend, who lives in China, to take the drugs to a contact in Indonesia.
Prosecutors had previously called for Waldeck, originally from mid Wales, to be handed a 16-year term but her legal team argued such a sentence would be too harsh. Prosecutors had previously called for Waldeck, originally from mid Wales, to be sentenced to 16 years but her legal team argued such a term would be too harsh.
Wearing a bright red prison bib, Waldeck clutched a Bible as she was sentenced and appeared to listen intently as an interpreter explained the proceedings. She was told she would also have to pay a fine of just over £100,000 or spend an extra six months in prison. Wearing a bright red prison bib, Waldeck clutched a Bible as she was sentenced and appeared to listen intently as an interpreter explained the proceedings. She was told she would also have to pay a fine of just over £100,000 or face spending an extra six months in prison.
After the sentencing on Wednesday, her lawyer Roberto Kaligis said he felt she should have received less than 10 years and was advising her to appeal. In the UK the charity Reprieve has taken up her case and its legal experts are discussing what her next step should be. After the sentencing on Wednesday at Surabaya district court, her lawyer Roberto Kaligis said he felt she should have received less than 10 years and was advising her to appeal. In the UK the charity Reprieve has taken up her case and its legal experts are discussing what her next step should be.
There has been shock at the case in Cheltenham, where Waldeck is well known for her work with young people.There has been shock at the case in Cheltenham, where Waldeck is well known for her work with young people.
Stuart Fowler, the chairman of Up Hatherley parish council, submitted a witness statement for Waldeck. He said: "I wrote a witness statement in her defence about her work within the parish, most especially with young people. I have to say it seems as though she has been a very silly girl.Stuart Fowler, the chairman of Up Hatherley parish council, submitted a witness statement for Waldeck. He said: "I wrote a witness statement in her defence about her work within the parish, most especially with young people. I have to say it seems as though she has been a very silly girl.
"She was accepted into the police, who must have made some assessment of her as an individual. Like the rest of us, when you have misbehaved, you have to take your punishment.""She was accepted into the police, who must have made some assessment of her as an individual. Like the rest of us, when you have misbehaved, you have to take your punishment."
Fowler said the local community had feared that Waldeck could be executed.Fowler said the local community had feared that Waldeck could be executed.
"I was terrified about the thought of the death penalty," he said. "I don't approve of it at all. I only hope that she is treated well when she is incarcerated."I was terrified about the thought of the death penalty," he said. "I don't approve of it at all. I only hope that she is treated well when she is incarcerated.
"It would be good if she could serve it back in her own country. This has been a big shock for those that knew her. I don't believe that she is a criminal. When she worked in the parish, she was always industrious and keen.""It would be good if she could serve it back in her own country. This has been a big shock for those that knew her. I don't believe that she is a criminal. When she worked in the parish, she was always industrious and keen."
The Cheltenham MP, Martin Horwood, tweeted: "Relief at least at reduced sentence not death sentence." Horwood has been fighting against the death penalty imposed on a second woman from Gloucestershire, Lindsay Sandiford, who has been convicted of trafficking drugs into Bali. The Cheltenham MP, Martin Horwood, tweeted: "Relief at least at reduced sentence not death sentence."
Horwood has been fighting against the death penalty imposed on a second woman from Gloucestershire, Lindsay Sandiford, who has been convicted of trafficking drugs into Bali.
Sandiford has been sentenced to death by firing squad after being found at Bali's airport with 4.8kg (10.6lb) of cocaine in the lining of her suitcase, worth an estimated £1.6m. She has denied the allegations, claiming she was forced to transport the drugs to protect her children.Sandiford has been sentenced to death by firing squad after being found at Bali's airport with 4.8kg (10.6lb) of cocaine in the lining of her suitcase, worth an estimated £1.6m. She has denied the allegations, claiming she was forced to transport the drugs to protect her children.
More than 140 people are on death row in Indonesia for drug crimes, a third of them foreigners. It is not known where Waldeck will serve her sentence but prisons in Indonesia are frequently criticised for their overcrowding and unsanitary conditions.More than 140 people are on death row in Indonesia for drug crimes, a third of them foreigners. It is not known where Waldeck will serve her sentence but prisons in Indonesia are frequently criticised for their overcrowding and unsanitary conditions.
Waldeck apologised to friends and family via Facebook last year. "Your support means the world to me. I'm so very sorry I've disappointed you all," she wrote.Waldeck apologised to friends and family via Facebook last year. "Your support means the world to me. I'm so very sorry I've disappointed you all," she wrote.
A spokesman for Gloucestershire police refused to comment on the case.A spokesman for Gloucestershire police refused to comment on the case.