The head of a department at the Kutaisi Medical Center of the “Giorgi Abramishvili Military Hospital of the Ministry of Defense of Georgia” has been arrested on charges of soliciting and accepting a bribe, according to the Investigative Service of the Ministry of Finance.

According to the agency, the accused arranged the issuance of a falsified medical certificate containing false data for a conscript in exchange for 3,000 GEL, in order to help him evade compulsory military service. Based on this document, the individual would have been able to obtain exemption from military duty.

“The Investigative Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia, in coordination with the West Georgia District Prosecutor’s Office, the Anti-Corruption Agency of the State Security Service, and the General Inspection of the Ministry of Defense, as a result of оперативно- investigative and covert investigative measures, has detained one person on charges of soliciting and accepting a bribe.

The detainee is the head of a department at the Kutaisi Medical Center of the LEPL ‘Giorgi Abramishvili Military Hospital of the Ministry of Defense of Georgia.’ The investigation established that, in exchange for 3,000 GEL, the accused arranged the issuance of a medical certificate with falsified data for a conscript, enabling him to avoid compulsory military service. As part of the investigation, based on court orders, covert investigative actions were carried out, through which audio and video evidence of the crime has been obtained.

The investigation is ongoing under Article 338, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provides imprisonment for a term of 6 to 9 years. The Investigative Service of the Ministry of Finance urges public officials and individuals willing to engage in corrupt deals with them to refrain from such illegal actions. The Service’s response will be strict in all cases,” the statement reads.