As a result of operative-searching and investigative activities carried out in Imereti region, representatives of Imereti and Racha-Lechkhumi Division of Investigation Department of Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia, charged two persons on the facts of purchase and sale of criminally obtained property, manufacturing and using forged tax document, legalizing of illegal income and evading particularly large amount of tax.

Investigation determined that the accused persons, on behalf of the companies under their management, in order to give a legal form to the illegally obtained timber having value of GEL 640 763 and to legalize it, created forged tax documents, as if they were purchasing and supplying timber materials amongst each other. Using the forged documents, they sold illegally extracted timber in the local market and obtained a large amount of illegal income.

In addition, the accused persons, by the companies under their management, in violation of tax legislation, were systematically incorrectly declaring income, thus avoided paying around GEL 500 000 to the state budget.

Investigation is being continued under the Articles 186, 210, 194 and 218 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which envisages imprisonment from 9 to 12 years.