The State Security Service of Georgia has detained five individuals in connection with a large-scale fraud involving the misappropriation of 4,184,249 GEL from the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure. One additional suspect, Bichiko Paikidze, the former director and sole owner of LLC B.P. TRANS, is currently in hiding and will be charged in absentia, with a search warrant issued for his arrest.
According to the agency, the arrests followed a joint operation by the Anti-Corruption Agency of the State Security Service and the Prosecutor’s Office, carried out under a court ruling. Those detained include the current director of LLC B.P. TRANS, V.K., an employee of the company, I.Ch., and three employees of the supervisory company involved in the project.
The investigation revealed that between June 2021 and September 2022, during the execution of roadworks on the Kutaisi-Alpana-Mamisoni Pass section and construction of bank protection in Oni Municipality, the suspects fraudulently appropriated over 4.18 million GEL from the Ministry.
The criminal proceedings are being conducted under Article 180, Part 3, Subparagraph “b” and Article 25, Part 3, Subparagraph “b” of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which carry a prison sentence of six to nine years.
The State Security Service emphasized that the objective is not solely to detain individuals but to prevent corruption. Authorities are continuing operational measures to identify any other accomplices involved in the case.
Bichiko Paikidze previously served as a majoritarian deputy of the Georgian Dream in the Vani City Council. The agency reiterated its commitment to an uncompromising fight against corruption and called on all involved parties to cooperate with the investigation.
