South Asia correspondent
A British woman accused of attempting to smuggle a large quantity of cannabis into Sri Lanka has appeared in court in the country.
Charlotte May Lee, 21, from south London, was arrested earlier this month after authorities allegedly found 46kg of the drug in her suitcases when she arrived on a flight from Thailand.
She has not yet been charged, but has previously denied knowing the alleged drugs were in her luggage. If found guilty, she could face up to 25 years behind bars.
Speaking to the from prison before her court appearance, Ms Lee said she had travelled from Bangkok to the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo to renew her Thai visa.
Dr Shanaka KulathungaThe former flight attendant arrived at Negombo Magistrate’s Court on Friday wearing a white knee-length dress, her long hair parted to the side.
She was making a procedural court appearance while the investigation into her alleged offences continues.
Ms Lee was held in a cell at the back of the courtroom before being brought to the witness box. She was visibly upset as she stood with her hands crossed behind her back, facing the magistrate.
Authorities wheeled in a large brown box containing the alleged 46kg of cannabis found in Ms Lee’s luggage.
The narcotics division of the Sri Lanka police told the court they intend to file an update on the investigation.
Ms Lee’s lawyer, Sampath Perera, asked if the alleged drugs had been examined by the relevant government authorities to ascertain if the materials were in fact an illegal substance.
The magistrate ordered it to be tested and for a report to be submitted to the court as soon as possible.
Speaking to the from a prison an hour outside of Colombo, Ms Lee appeared to be in good spirits.
She described her living conditions, saying she shares a cell with five other women and sleeps on a thin mattress on the concrete floor, using whatever clothes she has as a pillow.
That is where she spends most of her day, she said, although she does get to go outside for fresh air.
“I can’t compare it to anything,” she said. “I have never been to prison and I’ve never been to Sri Lanka. This heat and just sitting on a concrete floor all of the time.”
Ms Lee said she tries not to dwell too much on her current predicament.
“I am not trying to think about it. If I think, then I feel bad. I’ll still rather not process it.”
Ms Lee said she is concerned for the other women who are also in prison.
“There are people from so many different countries who have been here for two years, two-and-a-half years. And it’s still just waiting and no-one actually knows anything.”
She has managed to find other English-speaking women with whom she has developed a kinship. But she has not been able to speak with her family since her arrest.
Speaking to the from outside the courthouse after the hearing, Mr Perera said the next step is to make a bail application for Ms Lee, which could take three months.
Under Sri Lankan law, people being held on remand must appear before a judge every 14 days.
Ms Lee is being held on suspicion of keeping illegal drugs in her possession and drug smuggling. Her next court appearance will be on 13 July.
Additional reporting by Charlotte Scarr
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