One charged with fraudulent appropriation of property using forged documents

The Investigation Service of Georgia’s Finance Ministry on Tuesday said it had charged one individual for a fraudulent appropriation of property by manufacturing and using forged documents.

The body said the individual had illegally appropriated 350 hectares of land plots belonging to one of the companies located in Georgia’s eastern Sighnaghi district, with a total market value of approximately ₾3,500,000 (about $1,300,000).

The accused also attempted to illegally appropriate 100 hectares of land plots belonging to the same company, with a total market value of about ₾1,000,000 (about $390,000).

Photo via Investigation Service of Georgia’s Finance Ministry

The land plots have been “immediately” seized just after the beginning of the investigation, so that the accused and individuals with possible criminal connections with him could not dispose of the fraudulently acquired property, the Service said.

The offence is punishable by six to nine years in prison, the state body said, noting relevant measures were being carried out to identify and expose other individuals involved in the crime.