Member of the Republican Party Does not Plead Guilty

Vano Lomidze, the head of Kvareli district HQ of the “Alliance for Georgia” and head of the district office of the Republic Party, was arrested for false denouncement and swindle; however, he does not plead guilty.
 
Lomidze reported to the Kakheti News Centre that he had not burnt the car; however he was compelled to make similar testimony to the police during detention.

Policemen from the Kakheti regional department of MIA detained Vano Lomidze on 29 April 2009. According to his testimony to the investigation, he burnt his car for PR campaign of the political party he represented. Lomidze is accused in false denouncement and swindle, which envisages 8-year-imprisonment. At the moment he is in pretrial detention.

After the investigation finished Vano Lomidze petitioned to Kakheti Regional Prosecutor and requested plea bargain, but he was refused. The case was sent to Kakheti Regional Court in August, but hearing has not started yet.

According to Sopo Khorguani, member of Republic Party, law enforcement officers took his finger-prints though Lomidze was not declared to be a suspect or a witness.
“Lomidze’s location was unknown for some hours before MIA published the testimony of the detainee. Later we found out that he was in Telavi Police department. His attorney did not attend the first interrogation of Lomidze” said Khorguani.

Source: Kekheti News Centre