British woman in Georgia drug case: plea deal, release details differ

A 19-year-old British woman held in Georgia on drug trafficking charges was the subject of conflicting legal accounts on Monday after months in custody while eight months pregnant. Bella May Culley, from Teesside, was arrested at Tbilisi International Airport in May after officials say her luggage contained about 12 kilograms of marijuana and 2 kilograms of hashish. Court records and statements from lawyers and family outline a plea process, a large fine paid by her family and divergent reports about whether she was freed or remains subject to a prison term.

Prosecutor Vakhtang Tsalugelashvili told Tbilisi City Court that a plea bargain had been reached that would carry a two-year sentence and a fine of 500,000 Georgian lari. Defense lawyer Malkhaz Salakaia confirmed negotiations and asked the judge to schedule a final hearing and to consider releasing Culley on bail because of her advanced pregnancy, saying she had pleaded guilty and cooperated with investigators. Salakaia has also indicated his intention to seek a presidential pardon if necessary.

At the same time, other accounts said Culley was released from custody on Monday, handed her passport and could be free to leave...