(CNN) -- A 56-year-old British woman caught smuggling blocks of cocaine in her suitcase has been sentenced to death in Indonesia. Prosecutors in Bali had asked for a 15-year sentence for Lindsay June Sandiford, who was arrested last May carrying what officials said was cocaine worth an estimated $2.6 million. Read more: British housewife caught with $2.6M in cocaine could face death But a panel of judges opted Tuesday to hand down the death penalty. Their decision was based on the defendant having shown no regret for what she did, Indonesian state news agency Antara reported. Sandiford, from northeast England, was found to have blocks of cocaine weighing 4.7 kilograms (10.4 pounds) in her suitcase when she arrived on the island of Bali in May, the court heard.
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"We never expected the death penalty," the defense attorney is quoted as saying
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A rights group says Lindsay Sandiford is a vulnerable woman exploited by a drug gang
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The 56-year-old has 14 days in which to appeal the sentence, Reprieve says
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Sandiford was arrested after officials found cocaine worth $2.6 million in her luggage
"It is vital that the @placeholder government do everything possible to support Lindsay's appeal against the death sentence," she added.