Finance Ministry investigators charge 4 for tax forgery, money laundering

The Investigation Service of Georgia’s Finance Ministry has charged four individuals for purchase and sale of illegally acquired property, production and use of forged tax documents and money laundering, the state body announced on Tuesday.

The Service said its investigation had found the offenders had purchased illegally obtained wood material worth about ₾500,000 ($194,193).

It also said the individuals issued false tax invoices in the names of companies under their management to conceal the illegal origin of a total of 1,006 cubic metres of the material, before selling it to various individuals.

The crime is punishable by imprisonment for between nine to 12 years.