Police detain former employee of MIA for forcing 45-year-old man to beg for money in Tbilisi

Police have detained 37-year-old Gela Chaladze, former employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), for human trafficking in Tbilisi.

The MIA says that Chaladze systematically forced a 45-year-old (N.CH.) man to beg in the streets of Tbilisi on a daily basis under threats of abuse and physical violence.

The ministry released an audio conversation between Chaladze and N.CH and the 45-year-old where the offender demanded N.CH. bring him money, with which he was going to buy him psychotropic drugs.

Rustavi 2 reported that Gela Chaladze was an employee of the Constitutional Security Department (CSD) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs up until 2006. 

Rustavi 2 also says that Chaladze had been friends with the 45-year old man for seven years and they had a common business which turned out to be unsuccessful.

After that Chaladze started to force his friend to beg for money in Tbilisi.

Chaladze will face 12 years in prison if convicted.