As a result of operative-searching and investigative activities, representatives of Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia detained two persons on the fact of misappropriation of a large amount of property, by means of abuse of power by the organized group.

Investigation revealed that the head of a private pawnshop had entered into a criminal agreement with the expert-appraiser of one of the regional branches of a commercial bank, during which they agreed that the bank"s service center, on behalf of various individuals, would conclude false pawn loan agreements and to secure loan instead of real jewelry by non-precious metal goods (so called “bijouterie”) would be pledged.

In this way, during 2018-2020, on the basis of 82 fictitious pawnshop loan agreements, the defendants fraudulently misappropriated large amount of money belonging to the bank, causing material damage to the bank amounting GEL 3 476 788.

Real estate and movable property registered in the name of the accused were seized during the investigation.

Investigation is underway under the third and fourth parts of Article 180, the second part of Article 362 and Article 220 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which envisage imprisonment from 7 to 10 years.