The Prosecutor`s Office of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara has charged three foreign citizens with the fraudulent appropriation of a large amount of money by an organized group, using their official position.

The investigation conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs revealed that one of the defendants was advertising a construction company and attracting potential customers from abroad through social networks. He referred interested parties to other members of the criminal group, who signed fictitious labor contracts with the victims on behalf of the companies. Subsequently, they supervised the fictitious work at the construction site, formally organized it, and controlled the construction process, thereby creating the illusion among the victims that they were conscientiously fulfilling their contractual obligations.

The defendants also asked the victims to pay money in advance under the pretext of the expected increase in the price of construction materials and the accelerated completion of the work. Through this criminal act, the defendants illegally acquired 428,250 USD, 10,100 GEL, and 400,000 Armenian drams belonging to the victims.

The investigation also revealed that the group members used several companies based in Georgia and their related employment positions to conceal their criminal activities.

Law enforcement officers arrested one defendant on another fraud charge on June 17, 2026, and he is being held in custody based on a judge`s ruling. The second defendant was arrested on June 30, and criminal prosecution against the third was initiated in absentia.

The defendants were charged under Article 180, Part Three, Subparagraphs "a", "b", "c" and Part Four, Subparagraph "a" of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provides for up to 10 years of imprisonment as a form and measure of punishment.

The Prosecutor’s Office will apply to the court within the time limit established by law to impose imprisonment on the defendants as a preventive measure.