Georgian Prosecutor's Office arrests two for “criminal underworld” membership, support

The Prosecutor's Office of Georgia on Monday said it had arrested two individuals for membership in, and support for, the “criminal underworld”. 

An investigation conducted by the country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs found an individual set up a dispute involving criminal authorities on June 5 in the Black Sea city of Batumi. 

The dispute was set up after the alleged offender learned that the victim had allegedly won ₾300,000 ($110,831) in an online casino. Even though the allegation was false, the former charged the victim with ₾5,000 ($1,847).

He also contacted the victim and his relatives with threats and intimidation at the behest of an individual accused of being a member of the “criminal underworld”, demanding the payment. The victims transferred ₾5,000 ($1,847) to a personal bank account of the latter following the call. 

Law enforcement officers arrested the alleged offenders last week, with them facing seven to ten years and three to six years in prison respectively.