Briefing of Tornike Marsagishvili, Head of the Division for the Fight against Trafficking and Illegal Migration under the Central Criminal Police Department
The Ministry of Internal Affairs continues uncompromised fight against the "Thieves in Law" mentality and the "thieves' world". The officers of the Main Division for Combating Organized Crime of the Central Criminal Police Department, together with the Prosecutor General's Office, exposed the facts of "criminal skirmish" with regards to financial disputes between citizens.
As a result of complex operative measures and covert investigative activities carried out on the basis of the relevant court decision, law enforcers detained 9 persons connected with the "thieves' world" in Tbilisi, Adjara, Imereti and Samegrelo, and charged 7 persons were charged in absentia.
The following persons were detained on charges of membership of the "thieves' world": R.K. (DoB 1978), B.Z. (DoB 1992), Z.C. (DoB 1993) and G.A. (DoB 1971);
The law enforcers arrested the following individuals for appealing to a member of the "thieves' world": N. K. (DoB 1984), I.M. (DoB 1970), T.B. (DoB 1993) and J.S. (DoB 1986);
E.F. (DoB 1980) (Nicknamed "Pacho") has been detained for supporting the activities of the "thieves' world".
Charges have also been filed in absentia against: T.G. (nicknamed "Temo Sokhumski"), (DoB1972) - for being a "Thief in law", as well as for degrading and inhuman treatment, M.G. (DoB 1984) - for membership in the "thieves' world", as well as for degrading and inhuman treatment, V. Ch. (DoB 1986), and D. U. (DoB1991) - for membership in the "Thieves' World"; D.Ts. (DoB 1979) for appealing to the “Thieve’s World”.
As for K.T. (nicknamed "Enzo", DoB 1987) - for appealing to a member of the "thieves' world", while T. Kh. (DoB 1970, Nicknamed "Chinka") was detained for being a “Thief in Law”.
The committed crimes envision from 3 to 15 years of imprisonment.
The investigation established that the members of the "thieves 'world" and the supporters of the "thieves' world", in order to resolve financial disputes between citizens and obtain personal benefits, contacted "thieves in law" abroad, who were charged in absentia. In order to resolve financial disputes, the defendants organized criminal skirmishes in the attendance of the opposing parties.
The detainees listened to the positions of the disputing parties and made decisions in accordance with the so-called “Thieves’ Law” traditions, based on which one of the disputing parties was forced to pay a certain amount in favor of the other, as well as in favor of the representatives of the “Thieves’ World” at a time specified by them. Detainees also obliged citizens to pay fine in case if the debt was not covered on time.
Police, after several months of intensive covert investigation and searches activities, based on the Court decision, seized computer equipment and the detainees’ cell phones, applied for contacting each other as well as "thieves in law" abroad.
Investigation is in progress under articles 223 (1), 223 (3). 223 (4) and article 144 (3) of the Criminal Code of Georgia.
