Georgian court keeps five allegedly involved in transnational call centre fraud in preventive detention

Tbilisi City Court has ruled to keep five individuals allegedly involved in a transnational crime of fraudulent call centre services in preventive detention, the Georgian Public Broadcaster said on Friday.

The Prosecution Service said members of the group had fraudulently acquired over €3,170,000 from citizens of Germany, Slovenia, and Slovakia between 2019 and 2021, with the funds subsequently laundered.

The Service identified Eldar Biniashvili and Davit Todua as alleged unofficial shareholders and managers of the operation, alleging they and other individuals had “personally led” its activities, assigned functions to other members, and made “important decisions” necessary for the operation.

Three out of the five individuals have been arrested, while Biniashvili and Todua are sought internationally.

Because the individuals have left Georgia, criminal prosecution has been initiated against them in absentia, and they will be immediately declared wanted internationally to arrest them and bring them before justice in Georgia”, the body said on Wednesday.

The investigation has also identified three members of the organised criminal group, including the heads of the Security and German-English Language Department, who were arrested earlier today on charges of fraud and money laundering.

During the period of fraudulently obtaining money from the European population, one of the heads of the fraudulent call centre deposited over $1 million into the bank accounts of David Kezerashvili, his sister, and his sister’s son”, the body added in reference to the wanted former official in the United National Movement Government.

The pretrial session for the case is scheduled for October 31, with the charge carrying imprisonment for a term of nine to 12 years. The Service also emphasised criminal prosecution had been initiated against seven individuals, including one legal entity, in connection with the case.

The body said it had prosecuted a total of 94 individuals and seven legal entities involved in fraudulent call centre operations in recent years. Hundreds of citizens from various European countries are known to be victims, with total damages exceeding ₾30 million ($10.99mln). Additionally, assets allegedly acquired through criminal activities, valued at over ₾100 million ($36.63mln), have been seized.