...

Georgia’s Former Defense Minister accused of misappropriation of $ 12 million

Politics Materials 31 January 2013 09:46 (UTC +04:00)
The Investigation Department of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia indicted former Georgian Defense Minister David Kezerashvili in absentia for taking bribes in large size and in facilitating the smuggling of ethanol.
Georgia’s Former Defense Minister accused of misappropriation of $ 12 million

Georgia, Tbilisi, Jan. 31 /Trend N.Kirtskhalia /

The Investigation Department of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia indicted former Georgian Defense Minister David Kezerashvili in absentia for taking bribes in large size and in facilitating the smuggling of ethanol.

In 2007-2012, Kezerashvili has made a profit of $ 12 million from ethanol fraud, representative of the Department of Investigation said at a briefing at the Ministry of Finance.

According to the investigation, in 2007, Kezerashvili assisted Nikoloz Davitashvili and Joseph Imnadze in importation of ethanol with no payment of customs duty and production of cognac alcohol in violation of production technology.

Kezerashvili initially assisted illegal import of ethanol from Ukraine as the head of the financial police, then as defense minister and then as an entrepreneur, using his connections.

He received bribes from businessmen Davitashvili and Imnadze and then extorted money from them.

As a result of Kezerashvili's illegal activity, damage to the state amounted to $50 million.

Kezerashvili was charged under four articles of the Criminal Code of Georgia. Ex-minister faces imprisonment for a term of 11 to 15 years.

It should be noted that Kezerashvili has dual citizenship, Georgian and Israeli.

Tags:
Latest

Latest