The State Security Service has detained five individuals in connection with a large-scale fraud and aiding and abetting fraud.

According to the agency, the case concerns a large-scale fraud and aiding and abetting fraud. In particular, the fact of fraudulent appropriation of a large amount of money belonging to the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia.

“Within the framework of joint measures carried out by the Anti-Corruption Agency of the State Security Service of Georgia together with the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia, based on a court ruling, on the fact of fraudulent misappropriation of 4,184,249 GEL belonging to the state, the director of LLC B.P. TRANS, V.K. and an employee of the same company I.Ch. and three employees of the supervisory company have been arrested, while the former director of LLC B.P. TRANS and the owner of 100% of the shares, B.P., who is currently in hiding, will be charged in absentia and a search warrant will be issued against him.

The case concerns large-scale fraud and assistance in fraud. In particular, the fact of fraudulent misappropriation of a large amount of money belonging to the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia.

The investigation has established that from June 2021 to September 2022, during the implementation of the works envisaged by the electronic tender, during the implementation of the works on the Kutaisi-Alpana-Mamisoni Pass section of the road and the construction of bank protection with boulders on certain sections damaged by the natural disaster in the area of ​​Oni Municipality, B.P., the owner of 100% of the shares of LLC B.P. TRANS, with the assistance of the director of the same company V.K., the company employee I.Ch., and the contract supervisors G.K., R.F. and I.G., fraudulently took possession of 4,184,249 GEL belonging to the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia, thereby causing a large amount of property damage to the state.

The investigation into the above-mentioned criminal act is underway under Article 180, Part 3, Subparagraph “b” and Article 25, Part 3, Subparagraph “b” of Article 180 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provides for the form and measure of punishment as deprivation of liberty for a term of 6 to 9 years.

In addition, within the framework of the above-mentioned case, we are conducting intensive operational search measures to expose other possible accomplices in the crime and determine/clarify their relevant legal qualifications.

We would like to tell the public that our goal is not to detain people, our goal is to ensure the prevention of corruption. Accordingly, we can also address here all those people who have participated in corrupt transactions - cooperation with the investigation within the framework of the law will be a serious benefit for each of them.

The State Security Service will continue its irreconcilable fight against corruption and informing the public in this direction,” reads the statement.

For information, Bichiko Paikidze was a majoritarian deputy of the Georgian Dream in the Vani City Council.