Ex-TUI stewardess in hellhole prison claims she knows who planted stash on her
Charlotte May Lee, 21, was stopped at an airport in Sri Lanka with authorities claiming she was carrying cannabis valued at more than £1m - she says she had no idea it was there
A former TUI stewardess allegedly caught with cannabis valued at £1.2million in Sri Lanka claims she was set up and knows who did it. Charlotte May Lee, 21, is accused of trying to smuggle the synthetic cannabis drug 'kush' into Sri Lanka.
She was arrested after landing in Sri Lanka from Thailand last week, and is accused of having 46kg of the drug in her luggage. The part-time beautician from Chipstead, Surrey is currently being held in a "rotting" cell near the capital of Colombo, where she awaits her first court appearance today. She had just landed from Bangkok when she was arrested at Bandaranaike Airport and she has been held in custody since last Monday.
Currently she is at Negombo Prison, north of the capital, and has said she was completely unaware that there were drugs in her luggage.
She told MailOnline: "I had never seen them before. I didn't expect it all when they pulled me over at the airport. I thought it was going to be filled with all my stuff. I had been in Bangkok the night before and had already packed my clothes because my flight was really early.
"So I left my bags in the hotel room and headed for the night out. As they were already packed I didn't check them again in the morning. They must have planted it then." And she added: "I know who did it."
Miss Lee said she had been working on a 'booze cruise' in Thailand. She claimed she took a trip to Sri Lanka nearby as her 30-day visa was about to expire and she could wait there before getting a new one.
"I thought while I was waiting for the visa that I'd come to Sri Lanka. They [the people she believed planted the drugs] were supposed to meet me here. But now I'm here - stuck in this jail," she said.
After her arrest she was held for a week at the Police Narcotics Bureau and fears a long sentence if she is convicted. One pal who had spoken to her since she was detained told the Sun: "She thinks she's going away for a long time. She is scared but talks of becoming very friendly with a prison guard."
While she is currently able to see visitors 9.30am until 4.30pm during the day, this will become heavily restricted once she is formally charged in court today, leaving her feeling "scared", her friend added. It is understood Charlotte's family will not be flying over to visit her.
The 21-year-old ex-TUI stewardess is also said to be "aware" of the recent case involving 18-year-old Bella May Culley , who was detained at Tbilisi Airport, Georgia this month for allegedly carrying 14kg of cannabis in her bag.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Ex-NFL star Antonio Brown wanted for attempted murder after brawl and shooting at fight night event
The football ace claimed he was jumped by people who tried to steal his jewelry STAR WANTED Ex-NFL star Antonio Brown wanted for attempted murder after brawl and shooting at fight night event Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EX-NFL star Antonio Brown is facing a charge of attempted murder following a brawl and shooting that unfolded at a celebrity boxing event. The former Super Bowl champion is accused of punching a man and opening fire. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 An arrest warrant has been put out for the former NFL star Antonio Brown Credit: Getty Brown is accused of punching a man before snatching a gun from a security guard, as reported by The Washington Post. He then apparently charged toward the man who he had allegedly assaulted, according to the arrest warrant. The man claimed he was shot twice by the former football star and said he suffered a grazed neck. Brown claimed that he was jumped at the event, which was hosted by the influencer Adin Ross, and said people tried to steal his jewelry. The warrant was issued by cops in Miami-Dade, Florida. He is ordered to pay a $10,000 bond before being subjected to house arrest. Footage went viral that showed the sports star brawling. Following the scuffle, Brown appeared to come from behind a car and was armed with a gun. In the video, Brown could be seen charging at a group and gunshots were heard. Rumors circulated that Brown had been arrested, but he claimed he was only detained by cops. "I was jumped by multiple individuals who tried to steal my jewelry and cause physical harm to me," he posted on social media. "Contrary to some video circulating, Police temporarily detained me until they received my side of the story and then released me. "I went home that night and was not arrested." 'BLEW MY CASH' Before the chaos unfolded, Brown had appeared on a livestream hosted by Ross. Brown spent 12 years playing in the NFL, but has been embroiled in legal and financial issues. In February, the ex-wide receiver filed for bankruptcy after splurging his career earnings. During an appearance on the Nelk Boys podcast, he revealed he made around $100 million over the course of his career. "I blew all of my money. I blew everything," he admitted. Brown was part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers side that clinched the Super Bowl LV title. The Florida team defeated the Kansas City Chiefs at the blockbuster event in Tampa, Florida. Brown starred for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots during his career. He was named in the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team and starred in the seven Pro Bowls. 3 Brown in action for the Pittsburgh Steelers Credit: Getty
Wales Online
5 hours ago
- Wales Online
Ex-Wales rugby captain's business settles claim from former star
Ex-Wales rugby captain's business settles claim from former star Exclusive: A settlement has been reached in the case brought by Leigh Davies against a multimillion-pound water supplier Former Wales captain and WRU chairman David Pickering A water supplier run by ex-Welsh Rugby Union chairman David Pickering has settled a court claim from former Wales rugby international Leigh Davies. The retired centre had accused Hydro Industries of cheating him out of more than £125,000. Mr Davies, 48, earned 21 caps and played for teams including Scarlets and Ospreys. Mr Pickering, 64, was a flanker who captained Wales before managing the national team and then spending 11 years as WRU chairman. He is chairman of Hydro, a Carmarthenshire-based firm which provides drinking water in various countries and last year had more than £5.2m in net assets. In his claim, which was due to go to trial at Cardiff county court, Mr Davies accused Hydro of "deception" over Middle-Eastern business deals and said he no longer trusted Mr Pickering or the other directors. But we understand a settlement has been reached and the claim withdrawn. Hydro told WalesOnline: 'The proceedings have been stayed on the basis of confidential terms that neither party is free to disclose or discuss." The business previously made headlines in 2021 having secured millions in UK Government funding after donating £71,000 to the then-ruling Tory party. One of its directors is journalist Guto Harri, who was a top aide to former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Wales centre Leigh Davies tackled by Tom Takau of the USA in 1999 (Image: David Rogers /Allsport ) Article continues below Mr Davies' claim – first revealed by WalesOnline in January – alleged that he got to know people involved in Hydro after helping one of its directors with fitness training. Mr Davies allegedly introduced the directors to a friend he knew from charity rugby events in Dubai. That friend was a "close business partner and friend with the royal family in the United Arab Emirates", the filing alleged. According to Mr Davies' claim his friend was "looking for a water purification company to assist with numerous projects in the UAE, Gulf states, and surrounding countries". It added: "Following my initial introduction the potential for business grew and it became clear early on that there was massive potential for large contracts." The Neath-born star claimed he signed an agreement with Hydro's directors in 2013 that would secure him 5% commission on any orders he introduced or helped negotiate. The following year Hydro announced what it described as a "£20m joint-venture deal" with Abu Dhabi business group M Partners for a water treatment project in the UAE. Mr Davies saw himself as an "essential and continuing" link between Hydro and companies in the Gulf states. He said he represented Hydro at meetings and at corporate and charity events. "Hydro could not have existed, searched for new business opportunities, or entered into any new business contracts without my introductions," the filing alleged. It continued: "In 2016 Hydro wanted me to sign a new and different contract. This new contract would reduce my commission from 5% to 1%. Naturally this concerned me a little so I arranged to meet Wayne Preece [the chief executive officer of Hydro]." Mr Davies and Mr Preece allegedly met at the Morgans Hotel in Swansea. "We discussed the new agreement and discussed all the new business opportunities that had been presented to Hydro since my introductions," the claim read, adding that "lots" of potential contracts were mentioned including one with UAE waste management company Bee'ah. "I did not write any of them down as I took Wayne at his word that my interests and commission would be protected. I also believed I had some legal protection at that stage pursuant to the 2013 sales agreement. "On that evening Wayne Preece provided me with a 'forecast document' which suggested I would be receiving significant commission payments that would steadily increase over the next five years and then settle out resulting in a significant annual amount that would be life-changing for me. Even though my commission would be reducing from 5% to 1% even at 1% the forecast suggested I would be earning around £250,000 a year for the next 20 years from my commission payments. Naturally I now deeply regret trusting Wayne Preece on that night. "A few months later I signed the new 1% commission agreement in good faith. Unbeknown to me at the time negotiations were already ongoing and close to conclusion on the Bee'ah contract. I now know that the Bee'ah contract was signed on June 26, 2016, only a few weeks after I signed the 1% agreement. Had I still been entitled under my old contract at 5% I would have been entitled to a payment in excess of £125,000. I feel I was misled at the time but was not troubled as I had been assured that my 1% agreement would still bring me huge dividends. "Knowing what I now know it is clear that Hydro were becoming well aware of the potential for business in the UAE and Gulf states and wider and wanted to reduce my commission from 5% to 1% and then actually had no intention to pay any commission, in fact wanted to remove me completely." The claim accuses Hydro of "deception" in allegedly failing to disclose the Bee'ah contract. "I was told by Wayne Preece that there were lots of contracts 'in the pipeline' but nothing had actually been signed yet and that no monies had been received by Hydro as yet. This clearly was not the case and Bee'ah was close to signing and monies were about to be received, some of which I was entitled to." The claim was for £28,000 based on Hydro's alleged failures to pay 1% commission on deals after Mr Davies signed the 2016 contract but it also called for a ruling on whether he was entitled to 5%. When we inquired about the settlement Mr Davies declined to comment. Hydro, based in Llangennech, had net assets of £5,248,577 last year, £10,523,965 the preceding year, and £12,647,257 the year before that. The firm specialises in water purification technology and in recent years has won contracts in Ecuador, Bangladesh, and Egypt. Article continues below
North Wales Chronicle
a day ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Lord Brittan's widow says closure of police misconduct probe ‘undermines trust'
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said last week it had stopped the investigation into former Met deputy assistant commissioner Steve Rodhouse after a 'large volume of relevant material was recently disclosed to the IOPC by the Metropolitan Police'. Mr Rodhouse was due to face a disciplinary hearing for potentially breaching police professional standards of behaviour for honesty and integrity and discreditable conduct. The allegations centred around comments made to the media in March 2016 concerning his beliefs about the honesty of two witnesses to Operation Midland – a Met investigation into allegations of non-recent sexual abuse. They also involved remarks he is alleged to have subsequently made to former High Court judge Sir Richard Henriques, who had been commissioned to carry out an independent review of the handling of Operation Midland in August 2016. In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Lady Diana Brittan said she had hoped the investigation would bring a sense of 'closure'. She said: 'My husband was a high-profile individual, but at every level of society there are people who are falsely accused, and for them (also) it's the ruining of reputation, it's the anxiety that goes with it. 'I feel that it would have at least put a closure, to use that odd word, on the whole episode if somebody had been held to account, either for misconduct, or even for incompetence.' Operation Midland was launched off the back of lurid and false allegations made by fantasist Carl Beech – later jailed for 18 years for what a judge called 'cruel and callous' lies. The Metropolitan Police's 16-month investigation into fake claims of a VIP paedophile ring saw raids on the homes of Lord Brittan, as well as D-Day veteran Lord Bramall and ex-Tory MP Harvey Proctor. The probe ended in 2016 without a single arrest after Beech made a series of baseless allegations, including of three murders. The force was heavily criticised for believing Beech too readily despite inconsistencies in his evidence, including naming witnesses who did not exist. The IOPC said there was 'no evidence' within the material provided from the Met that there was 'any inappropriate motivation in Mr Rodhouse's comments to the media' or which 'supports that he made those remarks during Sir Richard's review'. Mr Rodhouse said the allegations made against him were 'ill-founded and incorrect'. Mr Proctor said he was 'appalled' by the 'disgraceful decision' not to proceed, adding he would be writing to Sir Mark Rowley, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, to 'demand a meeting and an explanation'. Lady Brittan said she felt her husband's legacy had been permanently tarnished by the episode, telling the BBC: 'What I really feel very sorry about is the fact that my husband was a great public servant. 'When he died, his obituaries referred to all of this.' In response to Lady Brittan's comments, an IOPC spokesperson said: 'Our recent decision does not change our finding that – by failing to follow Sir Richard Henrique's recommendation to investigate the witnesses in his independent review of the Met's handling of Op Midland – the Met's service was unacceptable and its subsequent reviews concluding no investigation was needed were flawed. 'During our investigation we reported a potential crime to the Met, which is being actively investigated by another force.'
