Two charged with fraudulent appropriation of state funds for Covid-19 patients

The Investigation Service of Georgia’s Finance Ministry on Monday charged two individuals with fraudulent appropriation of a “large sum of money” from state budget funds designated to Covid-19 treatment through abuse of official positions.

The Service said its investigation had found the offenders - the director and pharmacist of a medical facility in the country’s central-eastern Kvemo Kartli region - had “artificially inflated” costs of medical services provided to patients.

Designated for Covid-19 patients, the treatment saw the increased prices used in the facility between August 1, 2021 and January 1, 2022.

The body said the offenders had fraudulently obtained ₾108,032 ($40,165) from the state programme with their actions.

It added “relevant measures” were being taken to compensate the state for the financial damage, with the crime punishable with imprisonment from six to nine years.