Man who attacked ex-MIA official’s brother behind bars as investigation continues

The man who attacked the brother of a former Interior Ministry official and then handed himself in has been sentenced to preventative detention while the investigation continues.

The outcome of today’s hearing in Tbilisi City Court reflected the wishes of the Chief Prosecutor Office however the defence said they would appeal the decision.

Noshrevan Namoradze’s lawyers believed the penalty was too harsh for the charges against him.

Namoradze, a local businessmen and founder of the Tiflis Development Company, confessed to attacking businessman Davit Kodua on May 3. Davit Kodua is the brother of former Ministry of Internal Affairs high official Erekle Kodua, who is currently wanted by Interpol.

In court the Prosecutor’s Office said the attack against David Kodua was "a premeditated group attack motivated by revenge”.

Namoradze said in 2008 the Kodua brothers ordered policemen to unlawfully enter his home and plant 15 grams of heroin. The defence said the Kodua brothers wanted to obtain Namoradze’s share of the Tiflis Development and since Namoradze was not willing to surrender his shares in the company, the brothers planned to arrest him.

"They insulted my family because of me – this is something very painful for each man in Georgia. I have never had anything in common with drugs. The Kodua brothers planned all these things against me”, Namoradze said at today’s hearing.

He added the past several years had been "extremely difficult” for him.

An investigation into the assault of Davit Kodua related to Article 125 of the Criminal Code could result in Namoradze being sentenced to three to five years imprisonment.