OCCRP: Georgia Court Sentences Ex-Security Chief to 13 Years in Prison in Corruption Case

• OCCRP states that the Tbilisi City Court accepted evidence of four bribery instances, including $1,365,000 taken between 2021 and 2022.
• OCCRP notes that since late last year, the government has pursued 10 major cases against former high-ranking officials.

The former head of Georgia's State Security Service, Grigol Liluashvili, was convicted of accepting bribes totaling more than $2 million and sentenced to 13 years in prison. The Tbilisi City Court found him guilty of accepting bribes on an especially large scale, as detailed in the Prosecutor's Office press release.

Prosecutors presented evidence of four bribery instances, including $1,365,000 taken to protect a scam call center and more than $1 million received for lobbying projects. The case is part of a broader crackdown, with 10 major cases pursued against former officials since late last year.

• 13 years prison sentence for Grigol Liluashvili
• $1,365,000 bribe taken between 2021 and 2022
• 5,325,943 lari kickbacks collected on procurement contracts

• Review the Tbilisi City Court's acceptance of prosecutor evidence on four bribery instances involving Grigol Liluashvili.
• Monitor ongoing cases against former Georgian Dream party officials, including the January plea deal for former Prime Minister Garibashvili.
• Assess risk exposure to scam call centers operated by organized crime groups in Tbilisi, as referenced in the $1,365,000 bribery instance.

This case highlights the risks of high-level corruption and organized crime infiltration in government procurement and public projects. Compliance officers should closely monitor developments in Georgia, as the crackdown on former officials may reveal new typologies and vulnerabilities. The involvement of scam call centers and intermediaries underscores the need for enhanced due diligence and scrutiny of politically exposed persons, especially in jurisdictions with ongoing anti-corruption campaigns.