Five arrested for connections with “criminal underworld”

Police have arrested five individuals for connections with and membership in “criminal underworld”, the Georgian interior ministry said on Thursday.

The state body said two out of the five offenders had used members of the “criminal underworld” for settling financial disputes.

It also noted the group had organised secret meetings, monitored the execution of decisions and forced one of the disputing parties to deliver cash as part of the settlements, threatening to kill them if they refused to pay.

Law enforcers have seized computer equipment and mobile phones used for communication among the group.

The crimes are punishable by up to 10 years in prison.