Member of Batumi City Council Accused of Assisting Swindle

Maka Malakmadze, Adjara 

Member of Batumi City Council Mamuli Zhgenti is accused of abuse professional authority and assisting swindle. Officers of counter-corruption agency of the MIA imposed charge on him as a result of operative and investigative activities on March 23. Later, court released him from pretrial detention under bail of 15 000 lari.

Mamuli Zhgenti chaired the commission acknowledging property rights on misappropriated plots at the Batumi City Council. According to the official information published on the MIA’s website, Investigation established that in July of 2013 two citizens plotted to appropriate 863 square meters of land area. Mamuli Zhgenti misused his powers in order to fulfill the plot of the citizens. The action inflicted fiscal damage to the state in the amount of 149149 GEL in total.

Mamuli Zhgenti does not plead guilty. “It is insulting accusation and I presume the process is supervised by the members of United National Movement, who still work in law enforcement bodies.”

His lawyer Akaki Toidze said, the court had to release his client based on the agreement on non leaving the country. They appealed the City Court judgment at the Appeal Court on March 24.

Investigation against Mamuli Zhgenti is in progress on the fact of misusing powers and assistance in swindling (article 25-180 II part, sub-paragraph A and III part, sub-paragraph B and article 332 I part). Investigation against Guguli D. and malkhaz G. is in progress on the fact of swindling committed by the group in large quantities (article 180, II part, sub-paragraph A and part III, sub-paragraph B of the Criminal Code.

Mamuli Zhgenti was elected in the Batumi City Council during 2010 local self-governmental elections from the Conservative Party.