Within the framework of joint measures conducted by Georgia’s State Security Service (SSSG) Anti-Corruption Agency together with the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia, based on a court ruling, the director of B.P. TRANS LLC, V.K., an employee of the same company I.Ch., and three employees of the supervisory company have been arrested on charges of fraudulently misappropriating GEL 4,184,249 belonging to the state.

The State Security Service stated at the briefing that charges will be brought in absentia against the former director and 100% shareholder of B.P. TRANS LLC, B.P., who is currently in hiding, and a search will be declared for him.

According to information from the State Security Service, the case involves large-scale fraud and aiding in fraudulent activity, specifically the illicit appropriation of a substantial sum of money belonging to Georgia’s Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure.

“The investigation has established that from June 2021 to September 2022, during the process of carrying out work provided for by electronic tender, whilst implementing works for the installation of protective stone casting on individual sections damaged as a result of natural disasters in the area of the Kutaisi-Alpana-Mamisoni Pass road section and Oni Municipality, B.P., the 100% shareholder of B.P. TRANS LLC, with the assistance of the company’s director V.K., company employee I.Ch., and contract supervision persons G.K., R.F. and I.G., fraudulently appropriated GEL 4,184,249 belonging to Georgia’s Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, thereby causing large-scale property damage to the state.

The investigation into the aforementioned criminal acts is being conducted under Article 180, Part 3, Subparagraph “B” and Articles 25, 180, Part 3, Subparagraph “B” of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which provides for imprisonment from 6 to 9 years as punishment.

Furthermore, within the framework of this case, we are conducting intensive operational investigative measures to expose other possible persons involved in the crime and determine and clarify appropriate legal qualification,” the SSSG stated.

The State Security Service stated at the briefing that the agency will persist in its unwavering fight against corruption and will keep the public informed.

“We want to tell society that our end goal is not arresting people; we aim to achieve guaranteed prevention of corruption facts. Accordingly, we can hereby appeal to all those people who have participated in corrupt deals, cooperation with the investigation will be a serious mitigation within the framework of the law for each of them,” the State Security Service stated at the briefing.