As a result of operative-searching and investigative activities carried out by employees of the Investigation Service of Ministry of Finance of Georgia, facts of bribe-taking and commercial bribery were exposed in three separate criminal cases, and three persons were detained.

One of the criminal cases determined that N.B., a forest guard of the Khulo Forestry Administration of the LEPL Ajara Forestry Agency, received USD 1 000 from a citizen as a bribe in exchange for allowing the use of a plot of the state forest fund. He was detained at the scene upon receiving the money.

The second criminal case revealed that A.L., a veterinarian of the Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Regional Service of the National Food Agency, received GEL 650 from a citizen as a bribe in exchange for identifying and registering unregistered goods, bypassing the established procedures. The investigation is underway under Part 1 of Article 338 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which envisages imprisonment from 6 to 9 years.

The third criminal case determined that B.Z., an operator of LTD “Solid Waste Management Company of Georgia”, demanded and received GEL 500 from a citizen in exchange for allowing the unauthorized disposal of waste at a landfill located in the Kvemo Kartli region. The investigation into the third case is underway under Article 221 of the Criminal Code of Georgia on the fact of commercial bribery.