Police arrest 5 for connections with “criminal underworld”

Police have arrested five individuals for connections with and membership in “criminal underworld” and for using criminal authorities to settle financial disputes in Tbilisi and the western region of Samegrelo, the Georgian interior ministry said on Monday.

Two out of five offenders had mediated between two parties to settle financial disputes for personal benefits, the state body said.

The ministry also said members of the “criminal underworld” had “regularly  participated” in the financial disputes through instructions of ‘thieves-in-law’, and had extorted cash and expensive items from citizens.

Law enforcers seized “computer items”, drugs and mobile phones used for communication between the group.

The crime is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.