TBILISI, DFWatch — The former chairman of the Revenue Service ‘kind of admits’ being part of an effort to bankrupt Cartu Bank.

Cartu Bank was one of the first targets of President Mikheil Saakashvili’s government after the billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili said in October 2011 that he would enter politics. The bank, which at the time was owned by the businessman, was brought to the brink of bankruptcy because of legislative changes.

Former officials at the Revenue Service, including its former head Jaba Ebanoidze, were charged on Wednesday in the Cartu Bank case.

After his questioning he told journalists that he ‘kind of admits the crime’, adding that the court will decide the rest.

Ebanoidze’s lawyer Mamuka Chabashvili said his client is charged with abuse of powers. He helped in hiding property, which was necessary to fulfill the bank liabilities, as well as forging documents.


“My client admits the factual circumstances,” he said, adding that his client will declare his positions after having made himself familiar with the case material.

The other two who were charged, Mamuka Lashkhia and Otar Agladze, both admitted what they were accused of.

In the end of December 2012, another witness confirmed that he helped in implementing the bankruptcy scheme. https://dfwatch.net/witness-confirms-cartu-bank-bankruptcy-plot-55079