Finance Ministry investigators charge four with tax forgery

The Investigation Service of Georgia’s Finance Ministry has charged four individuals for manufacture and use of forged tax documents, the state body announced on Wednesday.

The Service said its investigation had found the offenders - with two of the group arrested - had issued fake documents on behalf of 14 companies under their management indicating construction and repair works to create ₾514,641 ($192,773) in false VAT assets.

They then used the assets created through the documentation to cover their existing tax liabilities.

The body said it had seized real estate and bank accounts under the name of offenders to cover the damages caused to the state budget.

It added “relevant measures” were being taken to “identify and expose” other individuals in connection with the case, with the crime punishable with imprisonment from four to seven years.