A British woman, Lindsay Sandiford, who has been imprisoned in Bali since 2012 for drug smuggling, is set to be repatriated to the UK following a bilateral agreement between the two countries.

Sandiford's death sentence was upheld by Indonesia's highest court in 2013, but her health has since deteriorated, and she is now seriously ill, prompting her transfer as part of Indonesia's broader efforts to repatriate foreign prisoners, including those facing the death penalty.

The agreement for her transfer was signed by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Indonesian Law Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra, with final steps pending completion of technical and administrative procedures.

Sandiford is expected to return to the UK within the next two weeks, with her transfer facilitated by this diplomatic agreement.

The transfer process aligns with Indonesia's practice of repatriating foreign prisoners under bilateral agreements after completing necessary procedures.

Her legal team and human rights advocates, including Dr. Felicity Gerry, argued she should be repatriated to serve her sentence in the UK, where the death penalty does not exist, and potentially be released immediately.

Advocates hope her return might lead to her immediate release, citing her prolonged detention on death row and her health issues.

Despite her claims of coercion and mental health problems, her appeals for clemency were dismissed, and she was sentenced to death after cooperating with police investigations.

Sandiford, 68, has been in Bali since 2012 after being caught with 3.8 kilograms of cocaine hidden in her suitcase, and she claimed she was coerced by a gang threatening her children.

Her case has drawn media attention, with her writing about her fear of imminent execution and her preparations for death, including farewell letters, as reported in the British press.

The broader diplomatic effort includes the release of another British national, Shahab Shahabadi, serving a life sentence, who was detained in 2014 on drug trafficking charges.

Indonesia remains a major drug trafficking hub with strict laws, including the death penalty for drug offenses, and about 530 people, including nearly 100 foreigners, are on death row for drug crimes, although the last executions occurred in 2016.