Former British army sergeant Matthew 'Des' Desmond is set to be released from a Georgian prison this week after agreeing to a plea deal that includes a £28,000 fine for importing narcotics. Desmond, 49, will plead guilty despite possessing paperwork proving the medication was legally prescribed for a spinal injury sustained during a jump in Afghanistan.
Desmond was arrested on April 23 when he declared the medication upon crossing into Georgia from Turkey on his Triumph motorbike. He was charged because he did not have local paperwork for the drugs, which included buprenorphine, codeine, and Pregabalin. Lawyers obtained documentation in May to confirm the medication was for private medical use, but Desmond remained in custody.
His legal representative, Jaba Kochlamazashvili, informed Tbilisi City Court of a plea bargain reached between the prosecution and defense. While the fine transfer and paperwork are still being finalized, the court adjourned the hearing until Thursday, when Desmond is expected to be released and return to his home in Nottingham.
"Matthew's release is all but imminent, the only problem is collecting the sum took a bit longer," Kochlamazashvili stated. "We expected it to arrive by today, but transfers and paperwork took too long. We expect him to walk free come Wednesday, after which he'll depart Georgia."
Desmond served in the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment (2 Para) from 1995 to 2018, with service in Iraq and Afghanistan. He had previously cycled across 25 countries before his arrest. His military service included a notable act of bravery in Afghanistan, where he sprinted across open ground under fire to rescue a fallen comrade, an action detailed in the book "Desperate Glory." He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.
He had been held at Gldani Prison, an facility previously listed among the world's worst due to past allegations of mistreatment. However, recent reports indicate improvements and a reduction in overcrowding and mistreatment allegations.