As already been reported Kutaisi Civil Court has
made a verdict on the former Prime Minister Vano Merabishvili case which
considers his imprisonment for a period of 5 years. The court also found guilty
Zurab Chiaberashvili, who was released on 50,000 GEL bail.
GHN is offering an article referring to the mentioned topic which was originally
published by DF Watch.
Former Minister of Internal Affairs Vano Merabishvili used an employment
program as a way to campaign for the National Movement party ahead of the
October 2012 parliamentary election.
This is the conclusion
of Kutaisi City Court in a trial that
has
lasted four months. The court sentenced Merabishvili to five years in jail and issued a 50 000 lari
(USD 30 000) fine to former Kakheti Governor Zurab Chiaberashvili, who was
charged with him in the same case.
Merabishvili was found guilty in each of the charges of violating
property rights, appropriation and embezzlement of state money and bribery of
voters. In each case, the longest possible sentence was set; three years, ten
years and two years in jail, respectively.
Following the principle
of concurrent sentencing, which was introduced by the new government about a
year ago, the strictest punishment of ten years “absorbed” the other sentences,
and in addition, because Merabishvili is covered by the 2012 amnestly law, also
introduced by the new government, the final sentence was reduced to half, or
five years in jail.
According to the court’s
statement, the serving of the sentence will be counted from the day he was
detained, May 21, 2013. He will have to serve four years and three months in
jail. The court also deprived Merabishvili of the right to hold public office
for a year and six months.
Chiaberashvili was also
found guilty as charged, but subject to less strict punishment; the court set a
50 000 lari fine. The court also changed a charge against him from abuse of
power to negligence.
The Prosecutor’s Office
plans to appeal the ruling about changing the charges.
Lawyers for both the
accused will appeal the decision.
Chiaberashvili said
after the hearing that he is innocent but expected such a decision for both of
them, because, he claimed, the government is harassing the court.
Merabishvili didn’t
attend today’s hearing. At an earlier court appearance, he claimed that the judge
is being pressured by the government. “All my relatives were dismissed or are
being prosecuted under criminal law. [...] Mr Judge, I doubt you can make a
fair decision with so much pressure,” he
said.
Merabishvili and
Chiaberashvili were detained in May, 2013. Prosecutors said an employment
program run by the former government was actually part of the National
Movement’s election campaign.
