Police arrest 8 for fraudulently overcharging tourists for order, service at club

Georgia’s Interior Ministry on Wednesday said law enforcement officers had arrested eight individuals for fraudulently overcharging tourists for services and products ordered at a club in Tbilisi.

The Ministry said its investigation had established the owners of a nightclub in Georgia’s capital had conspired with taxi drivers to take visitors to a certain bar where, with the assistance of the staff, they illegally overcharged the customers on their orders.

The state body also said threats and psychological coercion were used against the victims in the conspiracy.

Maia Omiadze, the Head of the Georgian National Tourism Administration, highlighted the importance of prevention of “this type of illegal schemes for sustainable development of tourism and reputation of the country”.

Omiadze said the Tourism body appreciated the efforts of the Ministry for “identifying and preventing” such crimes.

The offenders are facing imprisonment for up to 10 years, the Ministry also said.