Featured Image Credit: Rustavi 2
Topics: World News, News, Drugs, Crime
Lucy Devine
There's been a distressing update in the case of Bella Culley, the student who was arrested in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Culley, who is pregnant, was arrested at Tbilisi International Airport earlier this year after being accused of trying to smuggle large amounts of illegal drugs in her suitcase. She had arrived in Georgia from Thailand.
While she was out in Thailand, her family had reported her missing after not hearing from her for a few days.
Then, in an unexpected turn of events, Culley's family learned that the now 19-year-old had been arrested in Georgia – over 4,000 miles away from her last known location.
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The teenager was taken into custody after reportedly being caught with 12kg (26lbs) of marijuana and 2kg (4.4lbs) of hashish.
Culley has said she was tortured into trafficking the drugs, while her lawyer Mr Malkhaz Salakaia claimed she was threatened with a hot iron.
In a new update on Tuesday morning (October 28), it's been revealed that Culley – who is 35 weeks pregnant – will have to give birth to her baby in the Georgia prison.
According to The Sun, it's been revealed that Culley will have to serve a further 18 months behind bars, despite her family sending £140,000 ($186,000) in fines.
It's reported that Culley struck a deal with prosecutors that would see her walk free if she could raise £215,000 before October 28.
However, despite mum Lyanne Kennedy, 44, and dad Niel Culley, 49, desperately trying to raise funds, they fell short.
Instead, they paid 500,000 Georgian Lari ($186,000) in a plea bargain that sees Culley sentenced to two years in prison.
Culley is expected to give birth before Christmas.
At the hearing, Culley's family tried to clarify birth arrangements, with mum Lyanne explaining her plans to move to Georgia to care for the baby.
She said: “We want to know more about house arrest – I would have to come to Georgia to help.”
Culley also asked her lawyer Malkhaz Salakaia: “Will I be able to take the baby with me if I go back to jail?”
He responded: "Nobody is going to take the baby away from you.”
Culley is a student from County Durham, UK, who reportedly had hopes of studying nursing when she returned home from her travels, the Independent reports.
Her mother told Teesside Live that she had travelled to the Philippines with a friend before going to Thailand, while her friend went to Ibiza instead.