A British teenager, Bella Culley, aged 19, is currently on trial in Georgia for drug smuggling. Her family has reportedly paid £137,000 as part of a plea bargain that reduces her potential sentence from a maximum of 20 years to two years. Culley, who is 35 weeks pregnant, was arrested at Tbilisi International Airport on May 10 after authorities discovered 12kg of marijuana and 2kg of hashish in her luggage.
Outside Tbilisi City Court, Culley’s mother, Lyanne Kennedy, confirmed the transfer of funds but noted they fell short of the amount needed for her immediate release. Kennedy mentioned that the family is waiting for confirmation of the payment’s receipt, which is expected to take place the following day. During this process, Culley faces the possibility of giving birth while incarcerated.
Culley’s legal representative, Malkhaz Salakaia, indicated that negotiations regarding the plea deal are drawing to a close, but a technical issue must be resolved first. Salakaia has previously indicated a plan to appeal for a presidential pardon once the plea agreement is finalized.
Culley initially went missing in Thailand before her arrest in Georgia. It has been reported that she arrived on a flight from Sharjah, UAE. During an earlier court hearing, she pleaded not guilty to drug possession and trafficking charges, claiming she was coerced into drug smuggling under duress. This case highlights the prevalent use of plea bargains in Georgia, with over 90% of drug-related crimes resolved this way.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwypqwn4epyo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss