British Teenager Claims Torture Forcing Drug Smuggling In Georgian Prison

Bella Culley, a 19-year-old British student nurse from Billingham, is currently held in a Georgian prison after being arrested at Tbilisi International Airport for allegedly smuggling 12 kilograms of marijuana and 2 kilograms of hashish. In a pre-trial hearing, Culley pleaded not guilty and claimed she was tortured and coerced with threats, including being burned with a hot iron, to transport the drugs against her will. She showed the court scars on her wrist as evidence of the alleged torture and maintained that she was unaware of the contents of her luggage. Culley, who is 18 weeks pregnant, has been refused bail and remains in custody awaiting her next hearing. Her lawyer and family assert that she was forced into the smuggling by a criminal group and had no intention of committing the crime, while Georgian authorities continue their investigation. The case has drawn attention to the harsh conditions of the Georgian prison system, where she is being held in Prison No. 5, known for overcrowding and poor treatment.