Finance ministry investigation service launches criminal proceedings against 2 for fraud

The investigation service of Georgia’s finance ministry has launched criminal proceedings against two individuals for misappropriation of state-owned property by fraud, the state body said on Tuesday.

The development follows police finding the offenders had registered 9,100 square metres of state-owned land plots worth ₾426,958 (about $153,908) in Georgia’s eastern Dusheti municipality using fraudulent documents.

The investigation also found the accused individuals had also attempted to fraudulently register three land plots worth ₾1,650,640 (about $595,018), also using forged documents, in an attempt prevented by “efficient investigative activities”, the service said.

The crime is punishable by six to nine years in prison.