Romeo Mikautadze sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment, with a 2-year suspended sentence, after entered into plea bargain
Romeo Mikautadze, the former First Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, has confessed to the crime, cooperated with the investigation, expressed remorse, compensated for the damages, and requested a plea agreement from the Prosecutor’s Office, - according to a statement released by the Prosecutor’s Office.
The agency explains that, in light of Mikautadze’s confession, compensation for damages, and cooperation, the Prosecutor’s Office has petitioned the Tbilisi Court of Appeals to issue a verdict without conducting a hearing of the case on its merits.
“Regarding the charges of abuse of official authority, illegal participation in entrepreneurial activity, exceeding official authority, and the legalization of illicit income—acts that involved the acquisition of an exceptionally large amount of illegal and unsubstantiated income—the accused, Romeo Mikautadze (former First Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development), admitted to the crimes committed, cooperated with the investigation, expressed remorse, made restitution for the damages, and requested that the Prosecutor's Office enter into a plea agreement.
Taking into account Romeo Mikautadze’s admission of guilt, his restitution for damages, and his cooperation, the Prosecutor's Office petitioned the Tbilisi Court of Appeals to issue a verdict without conducting a hearing of the case on its merits.
The Tbilisi Court of Appeals approved the plea agreement reached between the parties, under which Romeo Mikautadze was found guilty of the abuse of official authority by a person holding a state-political position (Article 332, Part 2 of the Criminal Code (3 counts); illegal participation in entrepreneurial activity (Article 337 of the Criminal Code, 4 counts); abuse of official authority (Article 333, Part 1 of the Criminal Code); and the legalization of illicit income, involving the receipt of an especially large amount of illegal/unsubstantiated income (Article 194, Part 3, Subparagraph "c" of the Criminal Code).
Pursuant to a plea agreement, Romeo Mikautadze was sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment, with a 2-year suspended sentence. Additionally, he was fined 1,000,000 GEL and barred from holding appointed positions in the civil service for a period of 3 years. Furthermore, the following assets were confiscated from him, without compensation, for the benefit of the state: an apartment in Madrid, Spain, valued at 1,882,168 GEL; a country house in Tserovani, Mtskheta Municipality, valued at 372,720 GEL; a 15% stake in "Nakhiduri HPP" LLC, valued at 1,577,306 GEL; a Mercedes-Benz G 63 AMG vehicle valued at 510,000 GEL; a Land Rover Range Rover vehicle valued at 350,000 GEL; a Lexus ES 250 vehicle valued at 100,000 GEL; four watches valued at 630,110 GEL; gold bars valued at 99,504 GEL; and coins valued at 19,770 GEL.
In addition, Romeo Mikautadze has fully compensated for the damage caused to Tbilservice Group LLC, amounting to 114,658.08 GEL," reads the statement.
