Mikheil Saakashvili , the former president of Georgia has been sentenced to nine year of jail term. He has been found guilty of corruption by court of law.
The court pronounced this historic decision yesterday. The Judge Badri Kochlamazashvili gave his decision in the high-profile “Jackets case,” which involves allegations of misusing state funds.
The court of Judge Badri Kochlamazashvili after a long trial have found former president guilty of unlawfully spending approximately 9 million GEL (around USD 3.2 million).
The former president spent this huge amount from the state budget between 2009 and 2012. The prosecution proved in court that the funds misused were in actual were meant to use for special State Protection Service but were instead used to cover personal expenses.
It is also worth to note that expenditures included luxury hotel stays, visits to high-end spas, cosmetic procedures, and expensive clothing for Saakashvili, his family, close associates and friends many other unnecessary expenses as well.
Saakashvili, was Georgian president from 2004 to 2012, had previously been charged with abuse of power in 2018,. However in that case he got six-year prison sentence in absentia.
It is also to be noted that beside former President the former head of the Special State Protection Service, Teimuraz Janashia, was also implicated in the case. Teimuraz Janashia, has been fined an amount of 300,000 GEL (approximately USD 110,000) for allegedly abusing his official position. The judge stated that Janashia acted against the public interest which caused huge loss to state.
As soon as court pronounced its decision opposition parties termed this decision unfortunate. As per the charges against the former president were politely motivated.
Notably Saakashvili faces two other pending trials. One concerns events from 2007 including the violent crackdown on anti-government protests, the raid on Imedi TV, another was associated with the seizure of assets belonging to businessman Badri Patarkatsishvili.
The social media gave their mixed response to this conviction. Some praised court whereas some called it political motivated.
