British air hostess transferred from riot-hit Sri Lankan jail

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 10:19 · Archive

Charlotte May Lee, 22, has been moved from a Sri Lankan prison where riots killed 30 people.

Charlotte May Lee, 22, a British former air hostess from Surrey, has been transferred from Negombo Prison in Sri Lanka after violent riots killed 30 people—20 inmates and 10 guards. She had been held there for nearly 18 months following her arrest at Colombo Airport in May last year.

Authorities allege they found 46kg of synthetic cannabis packed in vacuum-sealed bags in her luggage. The stash was reportedly worth £1.2m. Lee insists she had no idea drugs were in her belongings and claims they were planted during her trip from Bangkok, Thailand. She has not yet been formally charged but faces a maximum 25-year sentence if convicted.

Negombo Prison, north of the capital Colombo, erupted in violence in July when riots broke out between two gangs. The facility was built to hold 650 inmates but housed approximately 2,400 at the time of the clashes, which lasted two days.

Lee has been moved to the nearby Kuliyappitiya prison. Sources close to her say she is 'coping well' with her new conditions and has learned to speak the local language to help communicate with fellow inmates, though she remains desperate to return home.

How it is being reported

• British air stewardess 'drug mule' is moved from Sri Lankan prison after deadly riots leave 30 people deadCharlotte May Lee, 22, has spent nearly 18 months behind bars over the 'drug mule' allegations. The 'traumatised' ex-TUI employee has not yet been formally charged.Daily Mail · 26 Oct, 10:04
• Brit 'drug mule' air hostess transferred from hell-hole Sri Lankan jail after riots leave 30 deadEXCLUSIVE: Charlotte May Lee, 22, has been transferred out of the notorious Negombo prison after riots earlier this year led to the deaths of 20 inmates and 10 guardsThe Mirror · 25 Oct, 14:04

In this story: Charlotte May Lee · Negombo Prison · Sri Lanka · Colombo · Kuliyappitiya prison · TUI · Bangkok

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