A young British woman, Bella Culley, who was labeled a “drug mule,” has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors in Georgia. As part of the deal, she is set to receive a two-year jail sentence. The 19-year-old, who is expected to give birth in December, faces charges of drug smuggling into the former soviet republic earlier this year.
During a brief session at Tbilisi City Court, Culley’s family, which includes her mother Lyanne Kennedy and father Niel Culley, managed to pay 500,000 Georgian Lari (£138,000) to the court for their daughter’s case. Culley, dressed in a grey sleeveless cardigan and pink t-shirt with a new hairstyle, appeared taken aback by the agreement details disclosed in court.
Despite having spent five months in jail on remand, Culley showed a smile and waved at her mother, anticipating a possible reduction in her sentence based on the fine paid. The family’s efforts led to a lower payment than what was initially demanded by the court for Culley’s release, which was set at 800,000 Georgian Lari (£220,000).
Both the prosecutor, Vakhtang Tsalugelashvili, and Culley’s lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, confirmed the plea deal had been finalized and the necessary conditions met. The lawyer further requested Culley’s release on bail before the sentencing hearing, citing her advanced pregnancy. However, the judge, Giorgi Gelashvili, denied the request, stating no legal grounds existed to alter her current status.
Amid uncertainty about where Culley will serve her sentence, whether in Tbilisi or possibly in the UK under house arrest or extradition, her legal team continues to advocate for her case. Culley, a student nurse from Teesside, was discovered in Georgia after disappearing in Thailand and subsequently arrested for transporting a significant amount of cannabis and hashish in her luggage.
Claiming coercion by criminal elements, Culley alleged she was forced into drug trafficking through threats and violence. Despite her hardships, she remains optimistic about her pregnancy and future prospects. The unfolding legal proceedings will determine the course of action for Culley as she awaits her final sentencing verdict.