In a significant development, Bella Culley, the 19-year-old British student who was arrested in Georgia on drug trafficking charges, is set to be released from custody. Culley, who is 35 weeks pregnant, has been detained since May after authorities at Tbilisi International Airport discovered 12 kilograms of marijuana and 2 kilograms of hashish in her luggage. The charges carried a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years.
The update came during a recent court appearance where Culley learned she would not face a lengthy prison term. According to her lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, prosecutors agreed to alter the terms of her plea bargain, leading to her release. The decision was reportedly influenced by her young age and her pregnancy. Culley, who is expected to give birth just before Christmas, was previously facing the prospect of having her child in prison.
Culley’s case had drawn international attention after her family reported her missing from Thailand, only to discover she had been arrested over 4,000 miles away in Georgia. Her mother explained that Culley had traveled to the Philippines with a friend before planning a trip to Thailand. The circumstances that led her to Georgia with a suitcase full of drugs remain unclear.
Throughout the legal proceedings, Culley has maintained that she was forced to traffic the drugs under duress. Her lawyer has reiterated these claims, stating that she was tortured and threatened with a hot iron. Following her release, which was met with an emotional hug for her lawyer, the details of the plea agreement and the conditions of her freedom are expected to be clarified as her new legal team, including both Georgian and British attorneys, becomes involved in the case.
