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Bella Culley, a nineteen-year-old British teenager, is currently facing trial in Georgia for drug smuggling. At a recent hearing at Tbilisi City Court, it was revealed that a significant amount of money is required in order to secure her release or reduce her potential sentence. Culley, originally from Billingham, Teesside, had been warned previously that she could receive a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, or even life imprisonment if found guilty. The negotiations between the defense and prosecution teams revolve around a monetary agreement with “many zeros,” believed to be in Georgian Lari, that would lead to the teenager’s freedom.
During the court session, Culley, who is around five months pregnant, appeared donning a black t-shirt and trousers. The prosecutor argued that she presented a flight risk and could potentially engage in further criminal activities if granted bail. Judge Giorgi Gelashvili ruled that she would remain in custody until the upcoming hearing scheduled for October 9, unless an arrangement is reached before then. Despite the challenging circumstances, Culley managed to smile at her family during the proceedings while expressing her love for them.
The young woman first went missing in Thailand before being apprehended at Tbilisi International Airport on May 10. Reports suggest that she had arrived on a flight from Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates. The Georgian authorities discovered a significant amount of narcotics in her possession – 12kg (26lbs) of marijuana and 2kg (4.4lbs) of hashish – leading to her detainment for an extensive period as they probed the origins of the drugs and her intentions with them. In a previous hearing in July, Culley pleaded not guilty to the charges of drug possession and trafficking, alleging that she had been coerced into the situation through torture, reiterating that she is a law-abiding individual who does not partake in drug-related activities.
Culley’s legal representative mentioned that the discussed sum for the plea bargain is substantial, but impending freedom could be obtained if her family is prepared to make the necessary payment. The situation remains complex, with Culley’s fate hanging in the balance until the resolution of the ongoing negotiations between the two legal teams
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