Tbilisi police arrest group for illegal deprivation of liberty, extortion

Police arrested six individuals in Tbilisi earlier on Thursday with charges of illegal deprivation of liberty, financial extortion, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, and failure to report a crime.

The interior ministry said four of the detained persons had assaulted a victim as part of an ongoing financial dispute and restricted their freedom through threats, before using the illegal detention to attempt extortion of “a large amount of property”.

• Three arrested for illegal purchase and possession of firearms, ammunition

Using both verbal and physical assault, the group attempted to ransom the individual for 51,000 GEL ($17,000/€15,000), releasing the victim the next day after extracting the promise of delivering the cash.

Out of the six arrested individuals, two were detained on charges of extortion and illegal deprivation of liberty, with two others additionally charged with unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. Police seized cell phones and illegal firearms during a search of the detainees' homes.  

• Four arrested for ‘membership in criminal underworld’, extortion

The ministry said the two remaining persons were charged in absentia with failure to report a crime.

The offences are punishable by four to 15 years imprisonment.