Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia, together with other law enforcement agencies, continues its active and uncompromising fight against crimes committed both in the sphere of corruption and in the financial-economic field. This time, we have exposed three criminal offences.
 
The first case concerns bribery of public officials. Two individuals have been detained on the fact of corruption offence. Namely: in the village of Jorjiashvili, located in Tetritskaro Municipality, representative of the municipal mayor and a senior specialist, by prior agreement, demanded and took the bribe from a citizen. In exchange, they promised patronage in arranging a foreign tourist camping site on the state-owned land.  
 
Audio and video recordings were obtained documenting the crime committed and the money taken as a bribe was seized.
 
Investigation is underway under the second part of Article 338 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which as a type of sentence, envisages imprisonment from 7 to 11 years.
 
The second case concerns a crime posing a threat to the health of citizens. Namely: on the fact of illegal entrepreneurial activity and assistance in these activities, three individuals were detained: head of a pharmacy, a pharmacist, and a neurologist.
 
Investigation determined that in one municipality, by pharmacies operating in two different locations, psychotropic medications subject to special control were systematically sold without the appropriate permit and prescription. The head of a pharmacy was assisted by a neurologist from one of the clinics.
 
A large quantity of various psychotropic medications and cash were seized as evidence.
 
Investigation is underway under the second part of Article 192, Article 25-192, Part 2, subparagraph “a” of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which as a type of sentence, envisages imprisonment from 3 to 5 years.
 
Regarding the third fact, we actively control financial sector in the digital space, where uncontrolled flows pose a direct threat to the country's economy.
 
We detained the manager of an unregistered virtual asset service provider.
 
The accused, without having the compulsory registration with the National Bank of Georgia, carried out illegal business activities using an online platform. This has led to the exchange of virtual assets and cash, thereby facilitating the movement of uncontrolled international financial flows into the country. In this way, he carried out transactions with virtual assets worth millions of GEL. As a result of the search, a large sum of cash, money counting machines, computer equipment, eight mobile phones, dozens of bank and SIM cards, as well as documents related to the case were seized as evidence.
 
Investigation is underway under the first part of Article 192 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which as a type of sentence, envisages imprisonment up to 3 years.
 
We will continue investigation to identify and expose other individuals involved in the crime, as well as to uncover the facts of tax evasion and possible money laundering.
 
We address to everyone who might believe that various problems could be solved through corruption – strictly adhere to the legislation of Georgia and to refrain from engaging in corrupt and illegal activities, as any attempt to circumvent the law will be promptly identified, and each such case will entail the most stringent legal measures.