66-Year-Old Grandma Accused Of Drug Trafficking Gets To Go Home After 15 Years In Prison

Asih, a grandmother from Indonesia, was deceived into the drug trade in 2011 and was sentenced to death.

Credit: HAYAT/IG

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Ani Anggraeni, whose real name is Asih, finally managed to return to Jakarta, Indonesia from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) yesterday night, after spending nearly 15 years in a Malaysian prison.

The 66-year-old grandmother was sentenced to death in 2012 for drug trafficking and has since survived endometrial cancer, a hysterectomy, and “multiple incidents of abuse” in prison before her release.

Since Malaysia abolished the mandatory death penalty, Asih was resentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment and was only due to be released in June 2031.

Tonight, at 8.15pm Malaysia time, 66-year-old Asih (Ani Anggraeni) boards her flight home from KLIA to Jakarta after nearly 15 years in prison in Malaysia. She has survived endometrial cancer, a hysterectomy, and multiple incidents of abuse in prison before this moment.… pic.twitter.com/iXr6clURRt
— HAYAT (@hayatlifemy) April 2, 2026

Her early release was made possible by the efforts of HAYAT, a Kuala Lumpur-based non-governmental organisation that conducts routine prison visits.

HAYAT discovered that Asih was deceived into the drug trade. In 2011, she received a job offer to work as a caregiver in Malaysia from an individual named Duwi. Duwi promised a high salary and a guarantee that Duwi would handle all accommodation costs and travel documents.

Unknown to Asih, Duwi falsified Asih’s name into ‘’Ani Anggraeni’’ while producing her passport. She convinced Asih not to use her real name when travelling abroad. HAYAT said this is a common modus operandi used by human traffickers to deceive immigration authorities. Asih, who has never travelled abroad, trusted Duwi.

Upon arriving in Malaysia, Duwi instructed Asih to travel to Vietnam to retrieve a suitcase and deliver it to Duwi’s relative living in Penang.

On 21 June 2011, Asih arrived at Penang Airport from Vietnam, where airport authorities found 3,865.2 g of methamphetamine in the suitcase she was carrying.

The Malaysian court sentenced her to death under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for drug trafficking.

HAYAT discovered Asih’s case in 2024 and coordinated with the Community Legal Aid Institute in Jakarta to jointly assist with the case and contact Asih’s family.

On 17 September 2025, HAYAT helped Asih apply for clemency to the Office of the Chief Minister of Penang, accompanied by a letter of support from Asih’s family in Indonesia.

Since her sentencing, Asih served approximately 15 years behind bars before receiving clemency from the Penang governor on 19 March 2026.

HAYAT said Asih’s case demonstrates the vulnerability of impoverished women in the illicit drug trade.

Based on HAYAT’s data, there are at least 8 other Indonesian women currently serving sentences in Malaysia in cases similar to Asih’s predicament. They were deceived with promises of a job with high pay or romantic overtures, and were then coerced into carrying bags or suitcases with drugs without their knowledge.

HAYAT, in a public statement, said they hope the authorities in Malaysia and Indonesia will learn from Asih’s case in tackling similar cases of drug trafficking.

We encourage the commuting of sentences and the repatriation of prisoners between both countries, particularly for those convicted for drug trafficking whose vulnerabilities have caused them to bear a disproportionate burden of punishment. Cooperation in granting the rights of detainees and prisoners will demonstrate the commitment of both countries to fulfilling human rights and the spirit of meaningful death penalty abolition.
HAYAT