Former School Principal Acquitted of Sex-Related Offence against Student

The Office of Prosecutor acquitted the former principal of Balghojiani public school Zurab Tabagari of the offence of coercion into sexual intercourse with a student. The decision was made after the investigation of Kakheti Information Center was published.

The case of Tabagari was heard by the judge of Kvareli Regional Court Vakhtang Mrelashvili. The Office of Prosecutor had imposed the following charges against Tabagari: coercion into sexual intercourse and abuse of authority. The trial was closed. Tabagari acknowledged his guilt only in the offence of abuse of authority. He categorically denied to have had any sexual contact with his student. Finally the Office of Prosecutor acquitted him of the sex-related offence. The prosecutor explained that they could not find any evidence to confirm this charge.

Zurab Tabagari acknowledged that he abused his work authority as he received the salary of guard along with the salary of school principal. Finally, the plea-bargain agreement was made and he was sentenced to three-year imprisonment.

The law-enforcement officials detained Zurab Tabagari in September of 2010. The school teachers had filed a complaint against Tabagari in June of 2010. On June 9th the TV Company Imedi covered a reportage where the applicants were publicly accusing Tabagari of raping a student. On the same day, some residents of the village notified the Kakheti Information Center that Tabagari was persecuted under political motives. According to them, the school principal refused to support the candidate of National Movement and that is why he was confronted.

Kakheti Information Center conducted an investigation on this issue. The investigation revealed that all four teachers who submitted complaint against Tabagari were the activists of National Movement for May 30th 2010 local government elections. The National Movement candidate lost to the candidate of opposition party National Council. Zurab Tabagari noted with us that the National Movement representatives visited him and asked him to win the supporters of opposition to their side. Tabagari refused to fulfil their request.

Kakheti Information Center