Ministry of Internal Affairs: Lawyer arrested on fraud charges - he demanded GEL 10,000 from a convicted person’s sister, promising that Ministry of Internal Affairs employees would arrange a plea bargain for her brother in exchange for the money

Employees of the General Inspection Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have arrested a lawyer on fraud charges following operational measures and investigative actions.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs released the information.

“Following a series of comprehensive measures, including covert investigative activities, it was established that the lawyer fraudulently demanded GEL 10,000 from the sister of a convicted person whom he represented. The accused promised the woman that he would supposedly hand the money over to employees of the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who would arrange a plea bargain in her brother’s case in exchange for payment.

In addition, the accused demanded a further GEL 100,000 from the convicted person’s sister, misleading her by claiming that GEL 40,000 of this amount would be handed over to the Prosecutor’s Office in exchange for securing a plea bargain on more favourable terms, while the remaining GEL 60,000 would be transferred to the state budget.

The convicted person’s family member handed GEL 10,000 to the lawyer to resolve the matter.

Law enforcement officers arrested the lawyer as a suspect.

The investigation is being conducted under Article 180, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which carries a penalty of up to seven years’ imprisonment,” the statement said.