Ministry of Internal Affairs Illegally Confiscates Cars From Businessmen

Ministry of Internal Affairs Illegally Confiscates Cars From Businessmen

Several months ago, businessman Misha Gagoshidze had his car, a ‘Toyota Landcruiser’, confiscated for violating customs laws. According to Gagoshidze’s lawyer, representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs asked him to give it to the Ministry in return for them not starting a case against him.

Misha Gagoshidze’s car was confiscated on November 5th 2005. The operation was carried out by Investigator Suliko Varshanidze, from the Constitutional Security Regional Department in Adjara. The businessman was charged under Article 362 for registering a car with false documentation.

The same day Investigator Varshanidze asked Gagoshidze to donate the car to the Ministry and in return the case against him would not be started. “The Investigator, Suliko Varshanidze, told Misha Gagoshidze that officers at special branch liked the car and if he donated the vehicle to them, the case would not be started”, stated Emzar Paksadze, the businessman’s lawyer.

According to Paksadze, officers at the Ministry of Internal Affairs have their own special methods of taking vehicles away. “First they register the car. Then, they state that the car has been transited illegally and try to make an agreement with the owner of the car. If the owner presents the car to one of the officials, the case against the person is stopped. That method is often used successfully”, says Paksadze. He also adds that in this way about 30 expensive vehicles have been taken away; but the owners prefer to remain silent. 

Paksadze also talks about violations occurring during the case. “Data about the car was sent to the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), though the car appeared not to be searched.  In addition, Gagoshidze was accused of violating customs laws. Because of this accusation they managed to confiscate the vehicle. The fact is that Gagoshidze has been charged under the Article 362 (using false documentation) which states that the person should be prosecuted within two years of the violation. Gagoshidze transported the vehicle in December of 2002, states the lawyer.

Today Misha Gagoshidze is no longer in Georgia. He was questioned as a witness after the confiscation of the car. The ‘Toyota Landcruiser’ is registered in the name of his driver, Levan Arobelidze. However, the police have not been interested in him so far. 

After the confiscation, the vehicle must have been kept on the territory of the Batumi Police Department. However, Gagoshidze identified his car while watching the arrest of suspects in the Girgvliani murder. When Paksadze, the lawyer, became interested how the car arrived in Tbilisi, it was immediately taken back to Batumi. “Gagoshidze made some modifications to the car himself, thus, only a few seconds were enough to identify it, whilst watching TV”, says the lawyer.

The case is being investigated by the Prosecutor’s Office in Adjara. “The prosecutor Amiran Verulidze told me that the case was sent to the General Prosecutor’s Office in Tbilisi”, adds Emzar Paksadze. However, prosecutor Amiran Verulidze denies his participation in the investigation of the case, claiming that he is “busy with more serious crimes”.

Maka Malakmadze from Batumi