As a result of complex operative-searching and investigative activities carried out in various regions of Georgia, representatives of Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance, in coordination with Prosecutor's Office of Georgia, detained and brought to the criminal liability 30 individuals into 7 different criminal cases.
Within the framework of the investigation, 3 facts of illegal entrepreneurial activity were exposed. The accused persons were engaged in extraction and sale of minerals in Shida Kartli, Imereti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti and Kakheti regions without relevant permit and license, as well as in violation of the license terms. 6 individuals have been exposed on the above-mentioned facts, 4 of them have been detained.
Regarding the first criminal case, investigation determined that the accused illegally extracted 9 163.35 m³ sand and gravel from Didi Liakhvi River bed in Gori Municipality without a relevant license, causing GEL 138 050.75 damage to the environment.
In the second criminal case, it was determined that in Imereti region, the accused persons prepared false documents reflecting purchase of products worth GEL 3 443 000 in order to disguise the fact of illegal extraction of minerals. They also caused GEL 19 561 423 damage to the environment by illegally extracting 1 346 371 m³ of minerals from Rioni River bed.
In the third criminal case, investigation exposed that the accused persons illegally extracted 144 793 m³ sand and gravel in Gurjaani and Mtskheta municipalities. Forged tax documents were used to cover up the crime. The damage caused to the environment amounted to GEL 2 172 502.
In total, 1 500 327 m³ of minerals were illegally extracted and damage caused to the environment amounted to GEL 21 871 975.
Investigation is underway under Articles 192, 194, 210, 218 and 299 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provides for imprisonment for a term of 5 to 12 years.
In addition, Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia has exposed a number of cases of fraudulent misappropriation of state-owned lands plots.
In one of the cases, it was determined that the accused persons in Mtskheta municipality fraudulently misappropriated 8 925 m2 state-owned land plots, value of which is GEL 1 299 265. 18 persons were brought to the criminal liability in this case.
In the second criminal case, the accused persons in Mtskheta municipality illegally misappropriated 5 975 m2 land plot, the value of which is GEL 591 525.
In the third criminal case, the accused persons in Akhaltsikhe Municipality illegally registered 644 m2 land plot having value of GEL 25 760 in the public registry by submitting false information.
In the fourth case, the accused persons fraudulently registered 4 650 m2 state-owned land plots having value of GEL 224 492 in Kazbegi Municipality by using forged documents. Part of the mentioned property has already been alienated, while the remaining part is still in the ownership of the accused’s family.
In total, the accused persons fraudulently misappropriated 20 194 m2 state-owned land plots, the total value of which is GEL 2 141 042. Procedures for returning the land areas to the state are underway.
Investigation continues regarding the above-mentioned cases under the Articles 180 and 362 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provides imprisonment for a term of 6 to 9 years.
Investigation Service continues its intensive work to fully expose criminal schemes and identify other persons involved in them. Response of the Service will be strict to any fact of damage caused to the state budget and the environment.
