Former Head of Revenue Service Questioned at Gvaramia’s Trial

Salome Chkheidze

At the trial on Nika Gvaramia’s case, former head of Revenue Service Jambul Ebanoidze was questioned about the scheduled tax inspection at Electricity Distribution Company Telasi in the autumn of 2012. He said the order on inspecting the Service was later canceled and tax agreement process was launched with the Company.

During interrogation, Jambul Ebanoidze said that in September of 2012 Minister of Finance Aleksandre Khetaguri requested to inspect the Telasi Company. Ebanoidze forwarded the order to the Audit Unit and corresponding group was instructed to carry out the work.

“Khetaguri called me early in October and told since the National Movement had lost elections, it would be more reasonable to stop inspection of the Telasi. Khetaguri said Telasi is a sensitive company, it would be better not to leave problems for the new government and allow them settle relation with Telasi themselves,” the witness said.

Nika Gvaramia read an extract from the accusation resolution to Ebanoidze and requested to evaluate it. “The money envisaged in the agreement did not include the VAT because it was foreseen as a bribe.”

The episode was about the agreement between Telasi and L&M, based on which Telasi transferred 500 000 lari to the company for the consulting service. 

After the extract was read, the witness could not refrain from laughing and clarified that there is similar practice when agreements are signed including or without VAT and it is not violation of the law.

Former Minister of Justice and Education (at different times) Nika Gvaramia and former Minister of Energy Aleksandre Kheteguri were accused of legalization of illicit revenues, usage of faked documents and abuse of authority.

When making introductory speech, the prosecutor noted that Telasi faced some financial problems and if state had inspected financial activities of Telasi, the company would have been fined with about 10 000 million lari. According to investigation, in 2012 Khetaguri was offered 1 million lari by Devi Kandelaki, that time director of Telasi, to settle financial problems between the Company and the state. Nika Gvaramia also involved in the process of bribe-accepting. Consulting Company L&M –Service was established for money-laundering and the aforementioned sum was transferred to its account for the consulting service provided to Telasi.