The officers of the Anti-corruption Agency alongside the officers of the Counterterrorism Center, on the basis of evidence established as a result of operative-searching and investigative activities brought 7 citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran to criminal justice as the accused on the fact of illegal entrepreneurship.

Investigation established, that the mentioned individuals, through so-called “Hawala” method carried out illegal entrepreneurship and received income in large quantities. In particular, they made money transfers from Georgia to the banking system of the Islamic Republic of Iran without permit and license for the mentioned activity, bypassing the banking system of Georgia. The accused individuals received income in large quantities in exchange to convert and money transactions. Their income received in 1 year, as a result of illegal entrepreneurship estimated to GEL 2 097 000.

In October of the current year, in the framework of the investigation launched into the mentioned case, the officers of Anti-Corruption Agency and Counterterrorism Center under the State Security Service of Georgia, as a result of joint operative-searching and investigative activities revealed the facts of illegal entrepreneurship and illicit income legalization by the citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran. On the basis of court ruling, the searching activities have been conducted in the offices and apartments of the citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran located in Tbilisi. As a result of the mentioned activities, money in large quantities, so-called “black ledger” and PIN pads manufactured in Iran have been seized, which is the evidence that illegal entrepreneurship and illicit income legalization facts took place in the mentioned offices.

Investigation is carried out on the fact of illegal entrepreneurship, (Article 192, paragraph I and II, subparagraph “a”, which envisages imprisonment from 3 to 5 years). The investigation is carried out by the Anti-corruption Agency under the State Security Service of Georgia.