State Audit Office to investigate “legality”of car handover to opposition leader by wanted ex-official

The State Audit Office on Tuesday said it would look into the case of possible handover of a car to the head of the United National Movement opposition party, Nika Melia, by former, wanted defence minister David Kezerashvili. 

Levan Bezhashvili, a member of the UNM, said last week Kezerashvili and Melia had been in “close cooperation” over the years, with the former minister, who currently owns the opposition-minded Formula TV, also gifting him an “expensive car”. 

Kezerashvili is wanted for embezzlement of more than five million euros in state funds while in office between 2006 and 2008, with the Audit Office expected to study the legality of the donation. 

In his social media post on Monday, Melia, who earlier accused Kezerashvili and former interior minister Vano Merabishvili of taking actions to remove him as the UNM chair, claimed Kezerashvili had sent the car “on his own accord” and the vehicle still remained in the party garage. 

He claimed he attempted several times to return the car in June, but in vain, noting  “is still anything [shameful] left, you may do?”.