Foreign national arrested over organised fraud scheme involving construction contracts

Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs on Thursday said police had arrested a foreign national and charged two other foreign citizens in connection with an alleged organised fraud scheme involving large sums of money.

Investigators from the Adjara Police Department's Investigation Division carried out a series of investigative measures that led to the arrest, which was made under a court order. One of the additional suspects has been charged in absentia, while the other was charged at a penitentiary institution.

The investigation alleged that the suspects formed an organised criminal group and assigned specific roles to obtain substantial financial gain unlawfully.

Police said the group targeted people in the Adjara region seeking construction and renovation services. Investigators alleged the suspects offered to carry out the work using false advertisements and fictitious contracts, collected advance payments from customers, but failed to fulfil their contractual obligations.

The Ministry said the group obtained $428,250, 10,100 Georgian lari and 400,000 Armenian drams through the scheme.

The crime carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years' imprisonment.