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Erekle Kodua, former head of the Special Operations Department. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia has charged former Interior Ministry official Erekle Kodua with abuse of power and fraud.

Erekle Kodua is former head of the Interior Ministry’s Special Operative Department (SOD).

Investigators found that on August 29, 2008, Kodua met Merab Robakidze, a prisoner who was arrested for illegal purchasing and keeping drugs.

The Prosecutor’s Office claims that Kodua offered Robakidze a plea bargain agreement about non-custodial sentence. In exchange, Robakidze had to buy two cars and give them as a gift to the government.

Robakidze agreed and with his friend’s help, bought two cars for USD 90 000. Investigators founs that one of these cars, a Lexus GX 470 which cost USD 45 000, Kodua fraudulently registered in his son’s name. Later the car was sold for USD 20 000.

In 2008, Kodua bought a car from Toyota Center Tbilisi for his mother. The car cost USD 92 000 and Kodua bought it on credit.

The head of Toyota Center Tbilisi, Erekle Gurchiani, was brother of Giorgi Gurchiani, who was arrested for illegal purchase and keeping the drugs at that time. Kodua met with the brothers in his room and promised to sign the plea bargain agreement. In exchange, Gurchiani gave him the car he had bought on credit from Toyota Center.

Kodua also demanded another car for the government that cost USD 41 500. This car Kodua registered in the name of another person, later in his own name and at last it was sold for USD 27 000.

Kodua is charged with abuse of power and fraud, charges which may lead to 9 years imprisonment if he is found guilty.