The Prosecutor's Office of Georgia has initiated criminal proceedings against eight members of an organized group on the fact of fraudulently causing large-scale damage to the state's property.

According to the Prosecutor's Office, an investigation conducted by the Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance established that the defendants had formed an organized criminal group since 2022 in order to illegally obtain financial benefits. The defendants gradually established various legal entities through which they purchased timber for its subsequent sale.

"In the process of entrepreneurial activity, in order to obtain greater benefits, the defendants systematically violated the special rules for the production of tax documentation established by law, constantly amended the declarations submitted to the tax authority by entering false data, on the basis of which they did not pay the due general state taxes.

Through the above method, members of the organized group caused up to 4 million GEL of property damage to the state by deception in 2022-2024.

The detainees were charged under Part 3 of Article 185 of the Criminal Code (large-scale property damage to the owner of the property by deception by an organized group), which provides for 4 to 6 years of imprisonment as a form and measure of punishment.

The Prosecutor's Office has recommended the use of pre-trial detention as a preventive measure against the defendants. The case has already been filed with the court with a motion.

The investigation into the case is continuing with the aim of identifying and exposing other members of the organized group," reads the information.