Lawyer arrested in western Georgia over interference with sexual assault investigation

Georgia's Prosecutor's Office in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara has arrested a lawyer accused of attempting to influence a victim in a criminal investigation involving an alleged sexual offence against a minor.

An investigation established that the lawyer, who was representing the accused in the underlying case, allegedly offered the victim's friend and mother money and other material benefits in exchange for persuading the victim to change information provided during questioning and give investigators false information.

The lawyer allegedly sought to secure a lighter sentence for the defendant he was representing.

The offence carries a maximum sentence of six years in prison.

The Prosecutor's Office said it had already applied to the court for pre-trial detention of the accused.