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The News in Brief

Thursday, January 31
Statement by Prosecutor General's Office on Jack Shepherd’s Case

Prosecutor General's Office released a statement on Jack Shepherd’s case.

The person subjected to extradition is entitled to use the simplified procedure of extradition and if he wants to use this right, he must express consent before the court.

“Jack Shepherd refused to use the simplified procedure at the trial. Therefore, he will be transferred to the British side on the basis of standard procedure.

In particular, according to the law, after receiving and studying the extradition materials within 40 days, the Prosecutor General's Office shall file a motion with the relevant city (district) court relating to the admissibility of extradition of a wanted person to the requesting state within a reasonable time. The relevant decision can be appealed through filing a private cassation suit with the Supreme Court. The decision on admissibility shall be notified to the Minister of Justice of Georgia, who shall make a final decision on the extradition," reads the statement of the Prosecutor General's Office.

A 31-year old Jack Shepherd from Britain, who was found guilty of killing Charlotte Brown, his date, in a speedboat in 2015, handed in to the Georgian police on January 23. He surrendered himself to police to “seek the justice and prove he is not guilty.”

Shepherd was sentenced in his absence to a six-year jail term for the manslaughter by gross negligence of 24-year-old Charlotte Brown. However, he obtained the right to appeal the decision. The website designer escaped to Georgia before being due to stand trial for the manslaughter by gross negligence of Ms. Brown, who died when his defective speedboat crashed on the Thames during their first date.



IMF Supports Georgia's Pension Reform

Francois Painchaud, IMF Resident Representative in Georgia made a statement that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) supports the Pension Reform of Georgia.

He noted that the reform it will help employed people in Georgia to gather more money.

“Pension reform will also promote capital market development and it will enable us to invest in different directions. This may take some time, but people should make sure that accumulation is the right way for a successful reform” he said.

The reform was adopted by the Parliament on July 21, 2018, which says that participation in the program is mandatory for legally employed people under 40, meaning they will be enrolled automatically and voluntary for people above 40 as well as for self-employed citizens.
(By Mariam Chanishvili)