As a result of operative-searching and investigative activities carried out by the representatives of Investigation Service [IS] of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia, 12 members of the organized criminal group were detained on the fact of deceitful misappropriation of large quantity of the state funds, by means of using forged documents.

Within the framework of the "State Program for Co-financing of Agricultural Machinery", approved by the Decree of the Government of Georgia, Non-Entrepreneurial (Non-Commercial) Legal Entity of the Ministry of Agriculture - "Rural Development Agency" financed individuals and individual entrepreneurs for the purchase of agricultural machinery, with the amount not exceeding GEL 150,000.

Investigation determined, that one of the detainees - former employee of the Agency, being informed about the abovementioned Program, in order to deceitfully misappropriate of large quantity of the state funds, contacted individuals who had no connection to agriculture and through them applied to the "Rural Development Agency" for a grant to purchase agricultural machinery. Several companies were also involved in the criminal scheme, from which the aforementioned equipment was allegedly purchased. In their turn, the same companies issued false invoices for the sale of equipment, in order to mask their criminal activities.

It is determined, that through the abovementioned scheme, the accused persons, by using forged settlement and official documents, in 8 cases, deceitfully received a grant with total amount of GEL 826 815. The misappropriated funds were later used for private interests.

Relevant measures are being actively carried out to identify and expose other individuals suspected of committing the abovementioned crime. According to preliminary data, the amount of damage caused to the state budget may increase, as well as the number of those individuals responsible.

Investigation is underway under the Articles 210, 362 and 180 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which envisage imprisonment from 7 to 10 years.

IS will periodically provide the public with information about the progress and results of the investigation. IS is actively continuing to effectively combat financial and economic crimes, including the identification of facts of the damage caused to the state budget.