TBILISI, January 30 – Georgia’s financial crimes investigators have arrested a food safety inspector in the country’s Shida Kartli region on suspicion of abusing official powers in exchange for personal gain.
The Investigative Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia said the detained official was a chief inspector at the regional office of the National Food Agency of Georgia.
According to investigators, the public servant allegedly passed confidential information about upcoming inspections to the manager of a private company several days in advance. The information was reportedly shared in return for material benefit and allowed the company that was the target of the inspection to avoid a potential fine.
The ministry said the company involved, LLC Farmer’s House, was operating in the city of Gori and was selling counterfeit agrochemicals under the name of Luna Sensation, a product associated with Bayer. Investigators said the chemicals were falsely branded and marketed as a Bayer product.
Authorities said the inspector used information obtained through official duties to warn the company ahead of inspections, giving it time to avoid penalties.
The investigation is conducted on the basis of an article of the Criminal Code that covers abuse of official authority.
