Georgian ombudswoman studies case of alleged laundering of $16.7 mln by TBC bank founders
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Georgian Public Defender’s Office has studied the high-profile case of alleged laundering of $16,664,000 by TBC bank founders Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze and concluded that “the case materials reveal no elements which [could be] considered money laundering.”
The 13-page document released by the Public Defender’s Office has been presented by Khazardze’s lawyer Zviad Kordzadze at today’s trial of the case at Tbilisi City Court, saying that the Georgian public defender said “there was no money laundering.”
The Georgian Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation into possible money laundering on August 2, 2018, after the Georgian Financial Monitoring Service sent them a written note about a possible violation taking place in 2007- 2008.
Khazaradze and Japaridze who call the charge “absurd” say that they took the money as a loan from Avto Tsereteli, a businessman with whom they had a ‘friendly relationship’, as the bank faced problems in 2007.
Shortly after being charged Khazaradze entered politics and founded a civic movement and a political party.
The Georgian Prosecutor’s Office has published the letter claimed by TBC Bank founder Mamuka Khazaradze to contain threats from Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia.
TBC Bank Founder Mamuka Khazaradze says that he has sent a letter he claimed he received from Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia and which allegedly included threats against him and TBC Bank, to London to be studied, while a copy has been handed to the Georgian Prosecutor’s Office.
Co-founder of TBC Bank Mamuka Khazaradze has demanded the resignation of the head of the National Bank of Georgia Koba Gvenetadze and the creation of an investigation commission regarding the money-laundering case involving top former TBC bankers.
The Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office have summoned TBC founders Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze to charge them [later today] with laundering $16,754,000. The Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation into possible money laundering on 2 August 2018, ‘after the Georgian Financial Monitoring Service sent us a written note about a possible violation’ taking place in 2007- 2008.
A Russian citizen and two other individuals have been charged with fraudulently obtaining a large amount of money and money laundering in Georgia.
Lelo for Georgia political party, which was founded by co-founders of TBC Bank Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, has presented the party list for the October 31 parliamentary elections.