MIA General Inspectorate arrests lawyer on fraud charges

Officers from the Interior Ministry’s General Inspection Department have arrested a lawyer on fraud charges following operational and investigative measures.

The Interior Ministry stated that the investigation, which involved covert operations, established that the lawyer deceived the sister of a convicted client into surrendering 10,000 GEL. The suspect told her the money would go to officers of the Interior Ministry’s Central Criminal Police Department, who would arrange a plea deal in her brother’s case in return.

“In addition, the suspect demanded a further GEL 100,000 from the convicted man’s sister. The suspect falsely claimed that GEL 40,000 would go to the Prosecutor’s Office in exchange for a plea deal on better terms, and that the remaining GEL 60,000 would be paid into the state budget.

A member of the convicted man’s family gave the lawyer GEL 10,000 to settle the matter.

Law enforcement officers subsequently detained the lawyer as a suspect.

The investigation is being conducted under Article 180(2) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which carries a sentence of up to seven years in prison,” the Interior Ministry said.