News, North East and Cumbria
Caucasus correspondent
Bella CulleyA British teenager held in prison in Georgia was “tortured” into smuggling drugs, she told a pre-trial hearing as she was refused bail.
Bella Culley, 19, from Billingham, Teesside, appeared at Tbilisi City Court and pleaded not guilty to charges of possession and trafficking a large amount of illegal drugs.
Mr Malkhaz Salakaia, representing Miss Culley, said she had been threatened with a hot iron to coerce her into travelling with the suitcase filled with drugs.
Miss Culley stood in front of the judge in the courtroom and showed her right wrist which had a scar on it.
Speaking in court, the 19-year-old said: “I did not want to do this. I was forced to do this through torture.
“I just wanted to travel. I am a good person. I am a student at university. I am a clean person. I don’t do drugs.”
’18 weeks pregnant’
Mr Salakaia, who does not speak English and specialises in juvenile law, said the teenager was not aware of what was in her suitcase.
He also told the court that Miss Culley was 18 weeks pregnant.
Miss Culley had been detained for 52 days before trial while the prosecution investigated where the 12kg (26lbs) of marijuana and 2kg (4.4lbs) of hashish found in a travel bag came from, and whether she was planning on handing it over to someone else.
Judge Lela Kalichenko remanded her into custody until the next court hearing scheduled for 10 July.
Miss Culley’s father, aunt and grandfather were all in attendance at the small courtroom in Tbilisi.
Rayhan DemytrieGeorgian Police said officers had seized marijuana and the narcotic drug hashish in a travel bag at Tbilisi International Airport.
The understands Miss Culley arrived in Tbilisi on a flight from Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates, on 10 May.
The has been told the British Embassy has advised the teenager’s family not to speak to the press.
A Georgian police spokesperson said the arrest was the result of a joint operation between multiple departments and, if she was found guilty, Miss Culley could face up to 20 years in jail or life imprisonment.
