Third official arrested in bribery scandal
By Messenger Staff
Friday, August 1
Tamaz Tabatadze, the head of the ministry’s privatization department, will face charges in connection with an alleged corrupt land deal.
On July 30 two other top officials were arrested in their offices allegedly taking a USD 350 000 bribe for allegedly promising state-owned real estate at a knockdown price. The Interior Ministry said the arrests are connected.
“The briber was promised land and real estate on the Tbilisi–Rustavi highway at a price lower than [officially set],” Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Khizanishvili said on July 30.
The alleged briber was also arrested. Tamaz Machaladze is founder of the New Style real estate company. The company was created ten years ago and is involved in real estate deals in the capital and other Georgian regions, according to its website.
The Interior Ministry spokesman said crooked privatization deals “are not frequent.” But some critics say Georgia’s vigorous privatization drive breeds graft.