Prosecutor's Office solves transnational crimes

The Prosecutor's Office has revealed the facts of fraud of a large amount of money and the legalization of illegal income and started criminal prosecution against two individuals and two legal entities.

"The Prosecutor's Office of Georgia has solved another transnational crime. The facts of fraud of a large amount of money and legalization of illegal income have been revealed, criminal prosecution has been initiated against two individuals and two legal entities.

The investigation established that the members of the criminal group, in order to receive a high interest rate when investing money in a financial institution, placed false advertisements on the Internet and fraudulently made the victims - US citizens deposit a large amount of money in the bank accounts of an enterprise founded by them.

In this way, one of the defendants and the persons in criminal connection with him, took possession of approximately 1,820,000 US dollars belonging to the victims.

Subsequently, one of the defendants transferred part of the amount, with fictitious designations and on the basis of false documents, to the accounts of legal entities related to him in different countries, in which way he legalized 1,770,000 US dollars", - reads the press release.

According to the Prosecutor's Office, another transnational crime has also been revealed by the investigation.

In particular, in order to fraudulently acquire a large amount of money belonging to enterprises operating in France, a citizen of a foreign country registered an offshore company and opened enterprise accounts in a banking institution operating in Georgia.

The defendant sent false messages to banking institutions operating in France on behalf of their clients, regarding the transfer of funds for various purposes to bank accounts controlled by him in Georgia, in which way he fraudulently obtained 445,000 euros belonging to the mentioned enterprises.

Subsequently, the accused, on the basis of fictitious designations and forged documents, transferred a part of the illegally acquired money to the bank accounts of persons related to him in different countries, in which way he legalized 100,000 euros.

Pre-trial detention has been ordered for the accused individuals in absentia. They face prison term from 9 to 12 years, if convicted.