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Okruashvili Sent to Pre-Trial Custody

Georgia Materials 29 September 2007 13:18 (UTC +04:00)

( Civil ) - Court in Tbilisi sent ex-defense minister, Irakli Okruashvili, in a pre-trial custody for two months pending investigation on September 29.

A judge ruled the verdict after midnight.

Okruashvili's lawyer, Eka Beselia, has alleged that she was barred by law enforcers and court marshals from representing her client's interests at the hearing by not letting her inside the court building.

Nika Gvaramia, a deputy prosecutor general, however, denied the allegation as utterly groundless. He said it was a provocation by Beselia with an attempt to discredit investigation and the court.

A state-funded attorney represented Okruashvili at the hearing, despite the latter's objections, Beselia said. Okruashvili himself declined an opportunity to attend the hearing citing "distrust to the judiciary," according to Beselia.

Okruashvili, who was arrested on September 27, is charged with large-scale bribery through extortion, money laundering, misuse of power and negligence while serving as the Defense Minister.

Okruashvili's lawyer said the ex-defense minister considered himself to be a political prisoner.

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