Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has detained 27 people in a case involving ties to the so-called “thieves’ world,” while six others will face charges, including one “thief-in-law” residing abroad. David Kiknadze, Director of the Central Criminal Police Department, announced this at a briefing.
According to him, the investigation established that the suspects received instructions from Mamuka Chkhaberidze, a “thief-in-law” based abroad, and acted on his orders. They regularly stayed in contact with one another and organized so-called “thieves’ arbitrations,” where decisions were made in line with criminal traditions.
Investigators also found that the suspects adjudicated financial disputes between parties, forcing one side to pay money to the other as well as to members of the criminal group itself. In the event of missed deadlines, they threatened physical violence and murder.
During searches of the suspects’ residences, police seized computers and mobile phones used to maintain contact with each other and with the “thief-in-law” abroad, as well as firearms and ammunition.
The investigation is being conducted under Articles 223 and 236 of the Criminal Code of Georgia. The maximum penalty under these charges carries up to 15 years of imprisonment.
As Kiknadze noted, from January 1 to date, law enforcement authorities have detained and criminally prosecuted 343 individuals linked to the so-called “thieves’ world,” including eight “thieves-in-law.”