State official among 20 charged with fraudulent misappropriation of state lands

A public official is among 20 individuals who have been charged with misappropriation of state lands in the central Shida Kartli municipality of Georgia between 2020-2021.

The Investigation Service of the Georgian Finance Ministry said on Tuesday the individuals had used false witnesses and forged documents to fraudulently register 10 land plots in the locality for themselves.

It also said the registrations had been completed through “improper” actions by an official in one of the municipalities of the region.

The registrations involved plots with a combined area of 44,396 square metres and worth ₾302,906 ($117,574).

The plots involved in the case have been confiscated from the individuals, with the offenders facing between six and nine years in prison.