New CCTV footage released as County Durham student claims she was forced to smuggle drugs

New CCTV footage has been released of a British student who claims she was tortured into smuggling drugs.

18-year-old Bella May Culley was arrested in May after she was found with 12kg of marijuana and 2kg of hashish in her possession.

BBC News reported that after her arrest in Georgia, she was since charged by police with “illegally buying, possessing and importing large quantities of narcotics.”

The student from County Durham, had hopes of studying nursing after returning from her travels. However, while she was travelling around Thailand her family reported her missing.

via Facebook

The family later discovered she had been taken into custody at Tbilisi International Airport.

However, Bella Culley has since reportedly claimed she was tortured into trafficking drugs, insisting she is innocent. Her lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, said she was “threatened with a hot iron to force her” into smuggling.

Ia Todua described her as “terrified and confused,” noting this was her first appearance in court. Culley declined to answer questions and the defence is currently exercising her right to silence.

According to a Metro report, while in court, and while 18 weeks pregnant, she pleaded with the judge and insisted she was innocent.

Bella said: “I did not want to do this. I was forced to do this through torture.

“I just wanted to travel. I am a good person. I am a student at university. I am a clean person. I don’t do drugs.”

She also claimed that when she tried to approach a police officer for help, he was part of the criminal group.

via Instagram

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Despite this, Thailand Lieutenant General Choengron Rimpadee has disputed this and recently released CCTV images from the airport showing Culley. In the footage, the student can be seen calmly passing through airport checks and doesn’t appear to show any unusual behaviour.

He said there was no evidence to support her claims of being coerced. In court, while reportedly 18 weeks pregnant, Culley was said to have pleaded with the judge, claiming she was forced into the crime.

Lieutenant Rimpadee said: “There is absolutely no factual basis to her claims.

“There is no evidence whatsoever that any immigration or police officers forced or threatened the suspect to smuggle drugs out of the country.”

Prosecutors in Georgia have confirmed they needed two months to gather evidence before Bella Culley’s case goes to trial.

Her lawyer, Ia Todua, reportedly said authorities are investigating the origin of the drugs and whether Culley planned to deliver them to someone. Her phone has been confiscated as part of the investigation.

Culley was reportedly set to be held in preliminary detention until July 1st. She faces up to 20 years (a life sentence) in Georgia’s only women’s prison, Prison No.5, if convicted.

Salakaia added that Culley had been told to fly to Georgia without knowing where it was and was meant to be met by someone in Tbilisi, but was intercepted by customs.

Her next hearing is scheduled for July 10th.