Georgian Railways ex-chief accused of large embezzlement
Tbilisi City Court has sentenced former General Director of Georgian Railways JSC Irakli Ezugbaia in absentia to pre-trial detention for a period of two months.
The Investigation Service of the Georgian Finance Ministry accuses Ezugbaia of embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds in a large amount.
According to Ezugbaia's lawyer, the defendant is currently in the UK for study, and intends to return to Georgia after considering the court's decision.
The lawyer said the court decision will be challenged in the Court of Appeal.
It should be noted seven former employees of Georgian Railway, who were also involved in this case, have been released on bail.
According to the investigators, Georgian Railways and the Vagonostroitel company signed five agreements in 2008, according to which Georgian Railways fixed artificially increased cost of repair of a carriage in the amount of $29,000, although the real market cost of the repair of a carriage is 31,000 lari. Therefore, the detainees caused damage to the Georgian Railways in the amount of 65 million lari.
The investigation is underway under relevant article of the Georgian Criminal Code, which envisages imprisonment from seven to 11 years.
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