As a result of operative-searching and investigative activities, representatives of Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia, on the basis of court ruling, detained 4 persons, three of whom are acting and one is a former public servant. Among them are former Mayor of Poti Municipality and current Chairman of City Council. 

Abovementioned individuals are accused in assisting to fraudulent misappropriation of state property in large amount, embezzlement of state property, bribery in an especially large amount, abuse of official powers, negligence and production and use of false invoices.

Investigation determined that in 2015 and 2017 Poti Municipality signed two contracts, which envisaged the rehabilitation of the coastline in Poti, in Maltakva district. During the course of the work, managers of the contracting companies included in the invoices false, increased data about volume of the work performed, in which way they deceitfully misappropriated state funds. deceived the government funds. The expertise revealed that in one case GEL 439 892 and in the other case GEL 88 929, in total GEL 528 821 were deceitfully misappropriated.

Investigation also revealed that officials of Poti City Hall, while carrying out their official duties, did not respond appropriately to those violations of the work-performing companies and signed a receipt confirming as if those works were delivered, thus encouraging fraudulent activities of the company executives. In return for such official protection, the head of the Poti municipality, during performance of his official duties, demanded and took the bribe of GEL 170 000.

Investigation is underway under the articles 180,182,338,332,342,210 of Criminal code of Georgia, which envisage imprisonment from 11 to 15 years. Investigation is ongoing and the issue of responsibility of other persons will be also raised in the nearest future.