Three arrested in separate bribery cases involving forestry, food safety, waste disposal

Georgia's Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance has uncovered three separate cases of alleged bribery and commercial bribery, arresting three people, the agency said on Monday.

In the first case, a forest guard with the Khulo Forestry Administration of the Adjara Forestry Agency allegedly accepted a $1,000 bribe from a citizen in exchange for allowing the person to use a plot of land belonging to the state forest fund. The suspect, identified only as N.B., was arrested at the scene while receiving the money.

In a second case, a veterinarian with the regional office of the National Food Agency covering Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti allegedly accepted a 650 lari bribe in exchange for identifying and registering unregistered livestock while bypassing established procedures. The suspect was identified as A.L.

The investigation in both cases is being conducted under Article 338, Part 1 of Georgia's Criminal Code, concerning accepting a bribe. The offence carries a prison sentence of six to nine years.

In the third case, an operator employed by the Georgian Solid Waste Management Company allegedly demanded and received 500 lari from a citizen in exchange for allowing waste to be disposed of without authorisation at a landfill in the Kvemo Kartli region.

The suspect, identified as B.Z., was arrested while receiving the money, according to the Investigation Service.

The third case is being investigated under Article 221 of the Criminal Code, concerning commercial bribery.