The officers of the Cybercrime Division of the Main Division for Combating Organized Crime under the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as a result of investigative activities detained 6 persons: Sh.B. (DoB 1976), M.Ch. (DoB 1996), N.Kh. (DoB 1966), M.Kh. (DoB 1988), previously convicted T.Ts. (DoB 1971) and T.G. (DoB 1971).

The mentioned persons were arrested for fraud committed by the group with prior agreement, which caused a large amount of material damage.

The committed crime envisions from 6 to 9 years of imprisonment.

Within the frames of the investigation, it was established that detainees, in 2022, together with members of a criminal group, planned to fraudulently misappropriate a large amount of cash belonging to one of the financial institutions. For the execution of the intention, Sh.B., who is the director of one of the companies, applied to one of the financial institutions and requested the installation of a POS-terminal. After Sh.B. received the POS-terminal, the members of the criminal group, as a result of illegal manipulations, activated the so-called pre-authorization function.

Defendants, in the period from January 27 to January 31, 2022, using 2 bank plastic cards registered abroad, with no sufficient funds, made 16 different payments at the POS-terminal, totaling 2,314,890 GEL. After the illegal transactions, the members of the group, by prior agreement, ensured the transfer of part of the money to their own bank accounts and cashed the sums in the shortest period of time.

Owning to their criminal actions the accused persons caused material damage in the amount of 975,530 GEL.

During the search held in Sh.B.’s vehicle, police seized a firearm, a magazine and 12 cartridges, which the accused was not allowed to carry with him. During the search of the company office managed by Sh.B. a post-terminal was seized, through which the members of the criminal group committed the crime. During the personal search of the detained persons and search activities held in their vehicles and apartments, the law enforcers seized large amounts of cash, bank plastic cards, mobile and computer devices, as well as various documentation.

Relevant investigative activities are carried out in order to identify and arrest others involved in the crime.

Investigation is in progress under Article 236, Part IV, Article 180, Part II, Subparagraph “A” and part III of the same article, Subparagraph “B” of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which stipulates illegal carrying of firearms and ammunition, as well as , fraud committed by the group with prior agreement, which caused a large amount of material damage.