Proposed law could mean British man facing death penalty by firing squad in Bali may avoid execution

Here is how a proposed law change in Indonesia could see a British man charged with drug trafficking in Indonesia avoid the firing squad.

Earlier this month, it was announced that 32-year-old British man Thomas Parker had been arrested on suspicion of dealing ecstasy on the Indonesian island of Bali.

Parker, from Workington, was detained outside his holiday home and faces death by firing squad if found guilty. The former electrician isn't the only Brit at risk of facing execution in Indonesia either, with British woman Lindsay Sandiford having been behind bars at the notorious Kerobokan Prison since 2013.

If found guilty, Thomas Parker could face the death penalty in Indonesia (Getty Stock Images)

Sandiford was arrested and later found guilty of smuggling cocaine into the popular tourist destination, which the 68-year-old would later claim she was forced to do after threats from criminal gangs.

However, a potential change in the Indonesian criminal code could see both Sandiford and Parker spared from execution.

What are the proposed changes to Indonesian death penalty laws?

Indonesia is one of many countries around the world that retains the death penalty, which is applicable to crimes such as premeditated murder, extreme cases of corruption and drug trafficking.

Death sentences are carried out by firing squad.

However, lawmakers in the Southeast Asian country have long been mulling over a potential update to the country's criminal code, which could see death sentences for some prisoners turned into custodial prison sentences.

Explaining how the update could save Brits such as Sandiford and Parker from the firing squad, human rights barrister Felicity Gerry KC detailed the prospective changes in a previous interview with The Mirror.

"There is an apparent move by the Indonesian authorities to abolish the death penalty," she explained back in December.

A proposed law change could see some death sentences turned into life in prison (ONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP via Getty Images)

"So they're moving, in 2025, to implement a law that will commute death penalties into prison sentences."

Gerry continued: "That law has not yet been enforced, but in the lead up, I think they are negotiating with more than one country about the return of people from overseas."

The idea was first reported by The Mirror back in March 2024, who stated that prisoners who'd served 10 years on Death Row would be eligible to have their sentences altered.

Should the law be passed, then Sandiford - who is dubbed 'grandmother' by her fellow inmates - could then argue that she should be returned to the UK.

While the changes are yet to be implemented by the Indonesian government, the prospective change provides a glimmer of hope for Parker, should he be found guilty by authorities.