USD 30 mln Confiscated in Anti-Corruption Drive

The Georgian Young Lawyers? Association (GYLA), a non-governmental advocacy group, published data regarding the amount of money and property confiscated from the former officials and their relatives as a result of recent enforcement of an anti-corruption law.

Property worth a total of 55,703,573 Lari (approximately USD 30.9 million) has been confiscated in the period between January-November, 2004, according to GYLA, which cites information obtained in the Georgian General Prosecutor?s Office.

The Anti-corruption law, which was passed by the Parliament last February, envisages the confiscation of assets of those officials and ex-officials who fail to prove these assets were acquired legally.

The confiscated assets include about 50 apartments and houses, shares in different companies, property, 27 cars and various bank accounts.

The Anti-corruption law has been employed by the Georgian General Prosecutor?s Office in 20 cases, involving a total of 80 persons.