A pregnant teenager from the UK facing drug smuggling charges has been relocated to a specialized unit within a prison in Georgia, providing her with improved facilities such as a shower and a proper toilet, according to her mother.
Bella May Culley, 19, who is reportedly eight months pregnant, was apprehended at Tbilisi Airport in May for allegedly attempting to transport 12 kilograms of marijuana and two kilograms of hashish into the country.
Culley’s mother, Lyanne Kennedy, disclosed to the BBC that her daughter has been transferred to a prison with better amenities after previously enduring harsh conditions at Rustavi Prison Number Five. Kennedy mentioned that Culley’s living conditions have now upgraded, allowing her more freedom, access to a communal kitchen, in-room shower, and adequate sanitation facilities.
Kennedy expressed the family’s efforts to bring Culley back home and emphasized that the full details of her daughter’s situation will be revealed in due course. Culley, who is due to give birth in December, is awaiting her sentencing, which is anticipated to be a two-year jail term as part of a plea deal.
Her legal representative revealed that negotiations had been successful, paving the way for a potential presidential pardon appeal for Culley. The court has acknowledged the plea bargain agreement, with the final sentencing scheduled for the upcoming week.
Despite a plea for bail ahead of the sentencing, Culley’s request was denied by Judge Giorgi Gelashvili. The lawyer reiterated that Culley had cooperated fully with the investigation and hoped for her release due to her advanced pregnancy status.
The uncertainty remains whether Culley will serve her sentence in Tbilisi or possibly be transferred to the UK for incarceration. However, assurances were given that she would not be separated from her newborn upon return to prison.
