The Prosecutor’s Office has charged 10 citizens of Georgia and 1 citizen of Israel for fraudulent obtaining the large amounts of money belonging to foreign citizens, encroachment on personal data and legalization of illegal income.

In the framework of international cooperation with “Eurojust”, employees of the Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs have revealed a large-scale international scheme of obtaining the large amount of money and legalization of illegal income.

The conducted investigation concluded that in the spring of 2019, citizen of Israel, J.H. with his accomplices – G.G. and G.L. formed a criminal group, which for a long period of time carried out fraudulent obtaining of funds belonging to foreign citizens interested in cryptocurrency trading and distribution among group members. The organizers step by step involved a number of persons who were aware of foreign language, including K.K., G.M., M.T., V.N., A.M., A.G., Q.I. and G.B.. The members of the criminal group, illegally obtaining the personal data of foreign citizens interested in cryptocurrency trading, from the office rented in Tbilisi, systematically contacted potential victims and offered to purchase cryptocurrency by cashless payment. In case of interest, the above-mentioned persons were registering them remotely on the relevant website, after that, they purchased cryptocurrency on their behalf, at which time they ensured the reflection of the el. currency relevant to the paid amount in the accounts available not to the victim but to the organized group.

By the above-mentioned way, the members of the criminal group, for the purpose of unlawful possession, fraudulently obtained the large amount of money belonging to a number of foreign citizens. As a result of active cooperation with “Eurojust”, dozens of affected citizens of European Union are identified, and the amount of damage established for this stage is 620,000 euros.

The investigation also revealed that part of the members of the criminal group had legalized illegal income, in particular, bought expensive vehicles and real estate, which is seized on the basis of a motion of the Prosecutor’s Office. As a result of the measures taken, the amount of more than 2 million GEL received as a result of criminal activities that was placed in the bank account of J.H. – the head of the organized group, was also found and seized.

The Prosecutor’s Office has charged J.H., G.L., A.M. and G.M. under the subparagraph “B” of the third part and the subparagraph “A” of the fourth part of Article 180, the subparagraph “G” of the third part of Article 194 and the first part of Article 157 of the Criminal Code of Georgia and G.G., V.N., K.K., Q.I., G. B., M.T. and A.G. – under the subparagraph “B” of the third part and the subparagraph “A” of the fourth part of Article 180 and the first part of Article 157 of the Criminal Code of Georgia. Based on the motion of the Prosecutor"s Office, the defendants have been sentenced to imprisonment as a measure of restraint.

The investigation of the criminal case continues. With the active cooperation to the international partners, in particular “Eurojust” member states, identification of the other affected citizens and the amount of material damage caused to them continues.