The Anti-Corruption Agency of the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) announced that criminal charges have been brought against eight individuals, including the former head of JSC Georgian Railway, David Peradze. He and two other suspects have been placed on the wanted list, while the others have been detained in Tbilisi by court order.
According to the SSSG, the case involves a large-scale corruption scheme that operated in 2020–2021. The former management of the company allegedly formed an organized group that systematically stole and laundered state property—specifically, scrap metal belonging to Georgian Railway.
Investigators allege that more than 22,000 tons of scrap metal were stolen under the scheme, which was then sold through controlled companies, with the proceeds cashed out and distributed among the participants.
Additionally, according to the SSSG, a separate episode concerns a 2022 contract for the repair of railway tracks, under which the volume of completed work was allegedly inflated, resulting in an overpayment of more than 400,000 lari.
The investigation is being conducted under articles of the Criminal Code of Georgia that carry penalties of 9 to 12 years in prison. Investigative measures are ongoing to identify other potential participants in the scheme.
David Peradze headed JSC Georgian Railway from November 2017 to May 2025.