Ex-Deputy Governor of Kakhetia, Georgia, arrested on the case of embezzlement

Georgi Sibashvili, First ex-Deputy Governor of the district of Kakhetia, Eastern Georgia, is suspected of abuse of authority and misappropriation of state funds, Department of Investigative Service of the Ministry of Finance reported.

Ex-Deputy Governor of Kakhetia was arrested.

“According to the investigation, Sibashvili commissioned Valerian Gremelashvili, Director of Agency of regional Development of Kakhetia, with signing a contract on reconstruction of the roads damaged by the natural calamity (after long-term showers in Kakhetia, July, 17, 2010 – note by the “Caucasian Knot”) with private entrepreneur Dmitry Ivanelashvili. However, after accomplishment of the reconstruction it emerged that the cost of the works was less than the sum transferred to Ivanelashvili, i.e. about 55.6 thousand lari (equal to about 33,5 thousand dollars)”, representative of the Ministry of Finance Natia Sukhiashvili explained pointing out that 10,7 thousand lari (about 6,5 thousand dollars) were embezzled.

According to her, one more episode on the case of embezzlement concerns works on reconstruction of the streets after which it became clear that 24,1 thousand lari (14,5 thousand dollars) were embezzled, IA “Novosti-Georgia” reports.

The investigation also found out that Sibashvili and Gremelashvili embezzled 115,3 thousand lari (about 69,4 dollars) while purchasing the necessary inventory for the Agency of development of national tourism.

Besides, the investigators state that Sibashvili signed contracts on reconstruction of roads and the citizens’ houses damaged by disaster on behalf of his family and friends and illegally allotted bonuses to himself, “Georgia-Online” reports.