A British woman, Bella Culley, known as a “drug mule,” has agreed to a plea deal with Georgian authorities, accepting a two-year jail sentence. Culley, aged 19 and expecting a baby in December, will be formally sentenced next week for her alleged involvement in drug smuggling into Georgia earlier this year.
During a brief hearing at Tbilisi City Court, Culley’s family, including her mother, Lyanne Kennedy, and her father, Niel Culley, successfully paid 500,000 Georgian Lari (£138,000) to the court. Culley, dressed in a grey sleeveless cardigan and pink t-shirt with a new hairstyle, appeared surprised as the agreement details were disclosed.
Despite having spent five months in jail on remand, Culley remained optimistic, smiling and waving at her mother. Her lawyer had previously indicated that the fine paid would influence the length of her sentence, possibly leading to the avoidance of jail time based on the amount paid.
Following the hearing, Culley’s mother mentioned that the court demanded a higher sum than what the family could afford for her immediate release. The court initially required 800,000 Georgian Lari (£220,000) for Culley’s release.
Prosecutor Vakhtang Tsalugelashvili confirmed that a plea bargain had been reached and all conditions were met. Culley’s lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, requested her release on bail before the sentencing hearing scheduled for next Monday at Tbilisi City Court. However, the judge denied the motion, citing no legal basis for a change in her current conditions.
Salakaia emphasized Culley’s cooperation, plea of guilt, and advanced pregnancy as reasons for requesting bail. Culley expressed concerns about her baby, to which her lawyer reassured her that the baby would stay with her.
The final arrangements regarding Culley’s sentence, whether she will serve it in Tbilisi, be placed under house arrest, or extradited to the UK, remain unclear. Culley, a student nurse from Billingham, Teesside, went missing in Pattaya, Thailand, before being found in Georgia with drugs in her possession.
She claimed to have been coerced by criminals, who threatened her and her family, leading her to smuggle drugs. Despite her harrowing ordeal, Culley is reported to be coping well, and her pregnancy is progressing smoothly.
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