‘Drug mule' Charlotte May Lee's lawyer fears Brit will be in jail for MONTHS before any chance of bail over £1.2m haul
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
ACCUSED drug smuggler Charlotte May Lee could be left to languish in a hellhole months before being given bail, her lawyer said.
The Brit, 21, was arrested last month after Sri Lankan authorities allegedly found a stash of cannabis worth £1.2 million in her suitcases.
5
Charlotte May Lee, 21, was arrested in May
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
5
Sri Lankan cops released a photo of the seized bags of drugs Charlotte was allegedly caught with
Credit: Sri Lanka Police
5
Former flight attendant Charlotte, from south London, has yet to be charged but is still holed up at a jail in Negombo on the west coast.
At a court hearing on Friday, her lawyer Sampath Parera said no progress has been made in releasing part-time beautician Charlotte on bail.
He told The Sun: "It is taking time because it is the highest amount of cannabis seized at the airport and I am speculating that investigating agencies are taking time to investigate.
Charlotte has now appeared in court three times since her arrest on May 12 after cops found two suitcases stuffed with 46kg of synthetic drug Kush as she landed at Bandaranaike airport from Bangkok.
Senior counsel Mr Parera said her bail is likely going to take time as the drugs seized at the airport are yet to be examined
He has demanded the examination of the alleged drug by the relevant government authorities to determine whether the materials were in fact an illegal substance.
The lawyer added: "I made an application on the very first day when she was produced at the court to produce those alleged cannabis to the government analysis department, or the authorities to get a report.
"It's pending, so they have to come up with the report. We still don't know the exact weight of this and we still don't know that actually there is cannabis.
"It has to be confirmed by a report or the expert analysis otherwise, you can't just say that there is cannabis without testing.
"We are just waiting for reports and documents... it will take about one month, or one and a half months."
Brit 'drug mule' Charlotte May Lee pictured in new mugshot along with huge £1.2m drug haul
'This is not a single case in Sri Lanka. There are lots of cases where all the drugs are being produced to the government department to get reports so there would be a small delay with regard to the report."
Mr Parera has claimed that the drugs were planted on Charlotte, who was seen tearing up in court last month.
She had earlier complained of discomfort given the "alien environment--different food and language" but Mr Parera said that she has been 'showing remarkable composure'.
He added: "Charlotte is coping as best as she can under the circumstances.
"Being in custody in a foreign country is undoubtedly difficult, but she has shown remarkable composure. She has accommodated that situation and she talks, she laughs.
"She is receiving food and basic facilities as per local standards.
"While the environment is naturally different from what she's used to, there are no immediate concerns regarding her treatment.
" We are in regular contact with the authorities to ensure her wellbeing is safeguarded."
5
Charlotte faces a long stay behind bars before she is sentenced
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
5
The former flight attendant being led into court last month
Credit: BBC Breakfast
The island nation in the Indian Ocean has one of the strictest anti-drug laws that criminalises not only trafficking but even small possession of drugs.
It has long been considered a transit point for international drug smugglers to be reshipped onward.
Drug trafficking can land those convicted with a life imprisonment sentence - or even the death penalty in Sri Lanka, although no executions have been carried out since 1976.
More than 162,000 people were arrested in 2023 for possession of methamphetamine, according to the country's National Dangerous Drugs Control Board.
At least a dozen foreign nationals are in jail over charges of drug possession or drug trafficking.
Nine Iranians were given life imprisonment in a drug smuggling case in 2023.
Mr Parera said that Charlotte's case became different due to the size of the drug haul.
Kush is a potent strain of marijuana cut with synthetic and dangerous additives including acetone, formalin, and tramadol. It was first seen in Sierra Leone in 2022.
If found guilty, She could result in her serving a 20 to 25-year sentence in Sri Lanka's maximum-security Welikada Prison.
Mr Parera added: "There are other foreigners in the prison custody. Some have brought 13 kilos, others have brought various quantities of the same drug.
Other Brit 'smuggler' Bella
by Nick Parker, Foreign Editor
VULNERABLE drug charge teen Bella Culley is "not far from childhood", her new lawyer said after visiting her in a grim Georgian jail.
Bella's family-appointed lawyer Malkhaz Salakaia, said the 18-year-old Brit did not even know where she was and had to have her location explained to her.
Mr Salakaia said Bella was in "good health" but he would not describe her as an adult, adding that she was "not far from childhood."
Bella was arrested on May 11 in capital Tbilisi's airport with a suitcase packed with 31lb of cannabis and hashish after flying from Thailand via Sharjah in the UAE.
She faces 15 years to life in jail in the eastern European former Soviet state.
She is being held in watchtower-ringed Penitentiary No 5 near Tbilisi while prosecutors probe how she came to have the £200,000 stash and who she planned to hand it to.
The teenager had been away in the Far East for weeks and boasted of a 'Bonnie and Clyde' lifestyle and posted pictures with wads of cash and smoking spliffs.
Her family have now dropped local legal aid lawyer Ia Todua in favour of Mr Salakaia who does not speak English and is understood to have been recommended by British Embassy staff.
He specialises in juvenile law and is expected to argue that vulnerable Bella - who announced she is pregnant in court - is a victim who was manipulated by ruthless traffickers.
READ MORE HERE
"This case is having extra attention from all over the world media and in the media in Sri Lanka because it is considered to be the biggest amount of cannabis which was brought to Sri Lanka and arrested in the airport."
He insisted that Charlotte was innocent and he was trying to get her justice.
'A person is presumed to be innocent until he or she is proven guilty," Mr Parera said.
"She is just a suspect at the moment. She needs to get justice. We are assisting her to get justice, and we are assisting the court too. I'm doing my level best for my client.
'She's denying the charges. She doesn't know what happened there. She remains hopeful that the truth will emerge and that justice will be served in due course.'
Comparisons have been drawn between Charlotte's case and Bella Culley's.
Bella, 18, lost contact with her family on a solo trip in Thailand before reappearing at Tbilisi International Airport in Georgia just a day before Charlotte's arrest.
She is also being detained under smuggling charges.
Although the two have never met, both young women were in Bangkok's airport alone before their arrests, and both were allegedly found with large quantities of cannabis in their bags.
She was found with 13kg of marijuana. Both women also reportedly told friends and family back home that they were meeting a man in Thailand.
Mr Parera added: "While there have been media reports of foreign nationals — including Britons — being caught up in drug-related cases, we strongly believe each case must be approached independently and with factual clarity.
"It would not be fair to cast broad assumptions about the local legal system. Our focus remains on ensuring a fair and transparent process for Charlotte."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Married ex-prison officer who had sex with inmate free months after being jailed
Linda de Sousa Abreu, 31, from Fulham, southwest London, was jailed after being filmed having sex with an inmate at HMP Wandsworth where she was working as a prison officer A married former prison officer who was jailed after being filmed having sex with an inmate has now been freed, just five months after being sentenced. Linda de Sousa Abreu, 31, was given a 15 month sentence after the video was shared on social media, and she has now been released early after serving just five months. A police investigation was launched after officers were made aware of the footage from inside HMP Wandsworth in south London. The mother-of-one, was arrested and pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office at Isleworth Crown Court in July last year. And she appeared at the same court on January 6, wearing a grey suit and white shirt, where she was given her sentence and told half would be served in custody, with the rest on licence. She was also entitled to a reduction of 95 days after it was revealed she had been wearing an electronic tag for 190 days. Following her release ex-Met Police detective Peter Bleksley was critical of the release. He told The Sun: 'This is a shocking example of soft justice. Where's the deterrent when sentences and time served are as short as this?' During her sentencing, Judge Martin Edmunds KC had told de Sousa Abreu: 'You engaged in sexual activity with a prisoner. That compromised your role as an officer, and was misconduct which undermines discipline within the prison, and puts fellow officers at increased risk. You knew that conduct was forbidden and forbidden for good reason.' The charge said that she had 'wilfully and without reasonable excuse or justification misconducted yourself in a way which amounted to an abuse of the public's trust in the office holder by engaging in a sexual act with a prisoner in a prison cell'. The court heard that de Sousa Abreu from Fulham, southwest London, who had a history of poor mental health and trauma, had consented to sexual activity with Linton Weirich at Wandsworth on June 25 2024. She also agreed to a second prisoner being present and filming the activity while appearing to smoke cannabis. The second prisoner later sent the video to a friend who shared it on X, formerly known as Twitter. de Sousa Abreu also asked Judge Edmunds to consider two further offences, one being sexual activity with the same prisoner earlier that day and the other being a separate sexual encounter with Weirich within at least three to four days of the main offence. After seeing the clip had gone viral, the prison officer attempted to fly to Madrid and later Madeira, where she had family, to wait for things to 'calm down'. She was arrested at Heathrow Airport after notifying the prison of her travel plans. Judge Edmunds said: 'From what I know about you, you were certainly not naive about the media or social media. It must have been obvious that the recording would be shown around and shared, at least amongst prisoners at Wandsworth where it would do the most harm. 'Whether you intended it or not, the fact is that the video went viral, and caused great harm. Many offenders do not intend the harm that their offending causes, but they nevertheless bear responsibility for it.' Victim impact statements read out on behalf of members of the Prison Service, including the current governor of Wandsworth, heard how the defendant's actions had led to female officers at the prison being 'subject to abuse and harassment from prisoners' as well as being subjected to sexual approaches and being seen as 'fair game'. Some female officers claimed their children have been subjected to teasing at school over what their mothers may do at work, the court heard. Judge Edmunds concluded: 'The consequence of the recording going viral, a result that you did not intend but which was certainly a consequence of your offence, has been that prison officers have faced heckling and harassment. 'They have been confronted with sexualised images falsely suggesting that your conduct is typical. Children of your fellow female prison officers have been teased as to what their mothers may do at work. It is inevitable that the damage for which you were responsible at Wandsworth has spread, to some degree, through the prison estate.' A Prison Service spokesperson said at the time of the sentencing: 'While the overwhelming majority of Prison Service staff are hardworking and honest, we're catching more of the small minority who break the rules by bolstering our Counter Corruption Unit and strengthening our vetting processes. As today's sentencing demonstrates, where officers do fall below our high standards we won't hesitate to take robust action.'
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I watched pitiful Soham killer Ian Huntley sob like a baby after going undercover in jail… how his arrogant mask slipped
David McGee reveals his chilling encounters with the 'slimy and manipulative' double child killer in our exclusive new true crime series TEARS OF A KILLER I watched pitiful Soham killer Ian Huntley sob like a baby after going undercover in jail… how his arrogant mask slipped WHITE as a ghost, overweight and sobbing uncontrollably, this was a side of Ian Huntley the cocky child killer never wanted anyone to see. And as David McGee wheeled the pitiful monster away in a golf buggy, he could barely believe the extraordinary chain of events that had led him to this moment. 11 Soham killer Ian Huntley was convicted of double murder in 2003 Credit: PA:Press Association 11 Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, both 10, were murdered by the monster 11 Huntley's girlfriend Maxine Carr was convicted of perverting the course of justice Credit: Reuters 11 Huntley was held at Woodhill prison while awaiting trial Credit: The Times As part of a shocking investigation into the lax security of Britain's jails, the former investigative reporter had landed a job as an officer at Woodhill Prison in Milton Keynes in early 2003. At the time the all-male Category A jail in Buckinghamshire held 650 prisoners. It had housed hostage taker Charles Bronson, 'Hannibal the Cannibal' killer Robert Maudsley and murderer Michael Sams, who had eight years added to his four life terms after taking a probation officer hostage at Woodhill. And just two weeks into his new role, David found himself left in sole charge of one of Britain's most notorious killers. The previous year, former school caretaker Huntley had lured ten-year-old schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman to their brutal deaths at his home in Soham, Cambs. Languishing in a Woodhill prison cell awaiting his trial for double murder at the Old Bailey, the brute was on suicide watch and needed to be monitored round the clock. Incredibly, that duty fell to David, who grew to know Huntley's "arrogant" and "slimy" character first-hand over a number of intimate encounters. Now, as part of The Sun's new true crime series, Meeting a Monster, which sees those who have met the UK's most infamous criminals reveal their darkest secrets, the former journalist recalls their incredible meetings. One occasion still sticks vividly in his mind: when he was tasked with escorting the killer to a visit with his distraught parents, Kevin and Linda, which saw his egotistical mask well and truly slip. Having driven Huntley to and from the visitors' suite in a golf buggy, David recalls him sobbing hysterically after the dramatic reunion. Soham killer Ian Huntley makes chilling comment during interview with Maxine Carr which helps snare him in Channel 5 thriller Maxine He tells The Sun: 'I was in the room while he spoke with his parents, and although I was not close enough to hear what they were saying, it was clear his parents were very upset too. 'By the time they left they were absolutely wrecked. I put my hand on Huntley's shoulder to steer him back to the buggy. "It was only a distance of about 100 yards back to his cell but I was told he had to be driven both ways. 'He was bawling his eyes out, the meeting had clearly been deeply traumatising for him. "Afterwards it took him quite a while to settle down. It was an astonishing day.' Chilling first meeting Using his real name and passport, which clearly stated he was a journalist, David incredibly still landed the job at Woodhill and worked there undercover for four months. When asked for references, he named his wife and mother - but nobody bothered to check. After some rudimentary training, in the spring of 2003, he was able to smuggle in a digital camera - which he concealed inside a personal organiser. His role involved guarding prisoners and ferrying them to and from court. He had access to keys for handcuffs, cell doors and the escape hatch in prison vans - meaning he could have freed inmates, passed drugs or weapons to them or even attacked them. 11 Huntley and Carr joined the hunt for Holly and Jessica in a brazen bid to cover their tracks Credit: BBC 11 They were tried at the Old Bailey Credit: Sian Francis More than two decades later, David can still remember the moment he first came face-to-face with Huntley, known behind bars as Prisoner JG5778. Left alone with the Soham killer, David snapped a photograph of him slumped in his cell. They spent hours chatting together about football, running, and playing games of chess through the bars of his cell. 'I was shocked and amazed,' said David. 'I remember the day very clearly. I had just a fortnight's experience as a fully fledged warder and here I was doing one of the most vital jobs in the prison. 'When I first saw Huntley in the Health Care Centre where he was based my mouth went dry. 'I could see he was alone at the end of the corridor, his cell was at the end of a row of three and the others were kept empty. 'Huntley and his watcher were doing a crossword. I heard my colleague say a clue out loud: 'It's five letters and ends in stem.' Huntley was bawling his eyes out, the meeting had clearly been deeply traumatising for him David McGee 'I suggested 'brain' and it turned out to be right. I heard Huntley say from his cell: 'He's smart isn't he?' 'He seemed pale, overweight and had bags under his eyes. He was wearing a burgundy sweatshirt, trousers and a pair of trainers. 'I said: 'Hello, how are you doing?' In a soft quiet voice he simply answered: 'All right.' 'We talked about soccer and when he rolled up a cigarette I cadged one off him, which is against prison rules. 'I was involved in a number of conversations with Huntley covering a wide variety of subjects." He adds: "We were close enough to share a chess board, our hands touched as we moved the pieces and I looked closely into his eyes. "That was chilling." 11 Huntley was quizzed by cops after Holly and Jessica went missing Credit: Mirrorpix 11 A police officer stands watch outside Huntley's home during a search Credit: Alamy Guarding Huntley was a popular duty at the jail as warders would get overtime, called Extra Gratuity Payments. Later, on May 7, David found himself guarding the killer alone again, this time for five hours. He said: 'Even though I was a raw rookie, I was on a rota to mind him after I was allowed to place my name on the overtime list of warders needed to man his round the clock suicide watch. "He asked me lots of questions and was actively engaged in conversation. I think he liked me and wanted me to like him. "He wanted to know about my partner, and said he preferred blonde women. He was deluded. I found him quite slimy and I'm sure he believed he would get away with his vile crimes "He was really interested in the fact that I had recently run the London marathon, and said he was very impressed with the time I finished it in. 'I had to bat away his questions because I'd been trained not to engage with the prisoners, but that did not seem to stop him. 'He never mentioned anything about the crimes he was accused of. "It was clear he was trying to be matey because that would have served him well, although there were other moments when he was tetchy and prickly but fortunately there were bars between us.' Prisoner perks Huntley's cell was painted pale yellow and was adorned with cards sent from his fiancée Maxine Carr - some pinned to a notice board and others carefully arranged on the windowsill. Each week he would buy two pouches of Golden Virginia tobacco, Rizla cigarette papers, matches, Rich Tea biscuits and UHT milk. Outside the cell was a TV screen with a Playstation on top of it, and the wires to the handheld console were passed through the bars so Huntley could play video games. He was holed up next to the prison gym and would occasionally ask to use the rowing machine. Looking back on the extraordinary time they spent together, David adds: "I definitely got a sense of his arrogance, he thought he was smarter than everyone else. 'At that time, before his trial, he had not admitted his involvement in killing the girls or shown any remorse. "He was deluded. I found him quite slimy and I'm sure he believed he would get away with his vile crimes. 11 Huntley was on 24 hour suicide watch as he awaited trial Credit: PA:Press Association 11 The spot where the schoolgirls' bodies were found near Lakenheath, Suffolk 11 The boot of Huntley's red Ford Fiesta that he used to transport the bodies Credit: Reuters "He struck me as incredibly manipulative, and I could see how he would be able to intellectually dominate young children or someone he perceived to be intellectually inferior or impressionable - like his partner Maxine. Clearly she was not the brightest spark. 'All I could do was listen to him, and he was more than happy to talk to me. 'Of course I would have loved to ask him questions but I was not there for that, I was only there as a consequence of the poor security." When the photograph David had taken of Huntley in his cell was published, the scandal sparked a Home Office investigation into the shambolic security at the prison. Prison industry groups said underfunding and staff shortages could have led to the apparent security blunder. David faced two charges under the 1952 Prisons Act in relation to the digital camera he had used, which flouted a rule prohibiting the taking in of items to the prison without authorisation. But he was later cleared when Milton Keynes Magistrates Court dismissed the case against him and all charges were dropped.
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Gemma Collins left 'scared and shaken' as stalker makes sinister move
Gemma Collins was forced to call in the protection of the police after she was sent a threatening letter to her home address from a stranger who expressed his dislike of her TOWIE star Gemma Collins has been left terrified and forced to call in the help of the police after receiving a threatening and abusive letter from a stalker. The reality TV star, 44, was sent the letter to her home address. On the back of receiving the shocking mail, she also took the drastic step of upping her personal security level. A source close to the reality star told The Sun: "Gemma was left shaken and very scared for her safety after she received a threatening and abusive letter from a man expressing his extreme dislike for her and using menacing language." The added: "It was really nasty and made reference to tracking her down, so she called the police straight away. It was alarming that this man knew her home address, but she already upped security and has round-the-clock guard dogs and has cameras onsite." The source continued: "She is always incredibly friendly with all her fans and happy to stop for pictures and a chat so to have someone send such an unpleasant letter has really shocked her." The insider told the publication that her case is now an ongoing investigation and she is said to be "grateful" to the police. The source said: "She thought about what had happened to Holly Willoughby and her kidnap threat ordeal so didn't want to take any chances." Unfortunately, this is not the first time Gemma has experienced stalking behaviour. According to the star, she has had people arrive at her Essex home as well as being sent through threatening letters. And this was the reason why she refused to be present at her Essex boutique. Speaking on the Daily Mail's Everything I Know About Me podcast, she explained: "No one would believe the bl**dy crap I've had to deal with. I've had a woman stalker that wrote me a letter in white gloves and wanted to kill me." She added: "You know, people would wish me dead. I'd get all sorts turn up at the shop. Weird. People are weird. And that's why in a way I came away from my shop in the end." Back in 2019, Gemma was forced to move home following another terrifying experience with a stalker. At the time, a removal van was pictured outside her Essex home. As if that was not bad enough, Gemma was recently struck down with pneumonia, which explained her lack of posts on social media. Speaking to the Mirror, she revealed: "It's shocking, I've had it now for over three weeks and I had steroids given to me by my doctor. It was DJ Fat Tony's wedding and I had to take them to get through that." She added: "But I'm off them now and the sickness is really kicking back in. It's so frustrating because I normally have so much energy and I'm always loving life, but now I get really breathless really quickly and I feel like I'm dying."
