Latest news with #MalkhazSalakaia
The Sun
21-05-2025
- The Sun
Brit ‘smuggler' Bella Culley, 18, didn't even know where Georgia was when she was arrested as ‘she's basically a child'
VULNERABLE drug charge teen Bella Culley is "not far from childhood", her new lawyer said today on Wednesday 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. 7 7 7 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. Their first meeting lasted two hours at the jail near the town of Rustavi. Mr Salakaia said his client was in good health, did not have any complaints about the place of detention and was ready to defend herself in court. When asked whether he would describe Bella as an adequate adult, his answer was "no". 7 7 During their meeting, the teenager is also understood to have cooperated for the first time with Georgian cops probing her case. Bella's anguished dad Niel, 49, from Billingham. County Durham was allowed to visit her for the first time yesterday since her arrest at Tbilisi's international airport on May 11. He is believed to have ferried a food and clothing package to Bella at the grim No5 Women's Penitentiary where she will be held until her next court appearance on July 1. He spent around 45 minutes with Bella before emerging puffing nervously on a cigarette as he waited for a taxi. He declined to comment. How might the cases of Bella Culley and Charlotte May be connected? Within a single day of Bella Culley's arrest, Charlotte May, 21, was arrested in Sri Lanka after allegedly being caught trying to smuggle drugs worth £1.2m While the two arrests took place over 3,000 miles apart, people immediately noted striking similarities It is believed to be likely that Georgian and Sri Lankan authorities will launch a joint investigation Both women are said to have departed from the same airport - Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport - allegedly with the drugs on them In both cases, the drugs were stashed in airtight packages that suggest a level of professionalism Both women had told their loved ones that they planned on meeting a mystery man during their travels in Thailand: Bella's grandad said she mentioned a man called "Ross or Russ", while Charlotte's friends said she made vague comments about meeting a man 7 7
BBC News
21-05-2025
- BBC News
Bella May Culley not an 'adequate adult', new lawyer says
A British teenager held in prison in Georgia on suspicion of drug offences has been described as "not far from childhood" by her new Culley, 18, from Billingham on Teesside, has had the first meeting with her new family-appointed lawyer Malkhaz Salakaia, who said he had to explain to her where she was is being detained for 55 days before trial while the prosecution investigates where the 12kg (26lbs) of marijuana and 2kg (4.4lbs) of hashish found in a travel bag came from, and whether she was planning on handing it over to someone Salakaia said Miss Culley was in "good health" but he would not describe her as an adequate adult. The lawyer, who does not speak English and specialises in juvenile law, has been communicating with his client using a first meeting lasted two hours in prison number 5, near the town of Salakaia said his client was in good health, did not have any complaints about the place of detention and was ready to defend herself in asked whether he would describe Miss Culley as an adequate adult, his answer was "no".He said he had the impression she was "not far from childhood". During their meeting, the 18-year-old was also giving evidence to Georgian investigators. Miss Culley asked for advice about what to say and on some questions she chose to remain the previous pre-trial hearing on 13 May, Miss Culley told the court she was Police said officers had seized marijuana and the narcotic drug hashish in a travel bag at Tbilisi International BBC understands Ms Culley arrived in Tbilisi on a flight from Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates, on 10 May . The BBC has been told the British Embassy has advised the teenager's family not to speak to the Culley was charged by Georgian police with illegally buying, possessing and importing large quantities of narcotics.A spokesperson said the arrest was the result of a joint operation between multiple departments and, if she was found guilty, Miss Culley could face up to 20 years in jail or life imprisonment. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
