Prosecutor and Lawyer Arrested for Fraud

On December 12, General Inspection officers of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia detained chief investigator Gela Makharadze of the Anti-Corruption Investigative Department of the Adjara Prosecutor’s Office and his father-in-law lawyer Archil Kalandadze.

The detainees are accused of fraud committed based on preliminary agreement. The crime is punished under Article 180 Part II –“a” and Part III –“b”.

According to the information, published on the website of the Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia, Gela Makharadze and his father-in-law Archil Kalandadze persuaded family members of the convicted Zurab Makharadze that they could resolve the problems related with Makharadze’s accusation by bribing an official from the prosecutor’s office.

In exchange, they received 17 000 USD from the family members. Inspectors withdrew part of the sum - 12 000 USD during the investigative activities.

According to the police, both accused plead guilty. They are sentenced to pretrial detention.

Maka Malakmadze, Adjara