Police arrest seven people on charges of hostage-taking and robbery

As a result of a joint police operation, officers of the Isani-Samgori Main Division of the Tbilisi Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Kvemo Kartli Police Department arrested seven people accused of various serious crimes.

The investigation revealed that the defendants came to the citizens of the Russian Federation late at night to check for a gas leak in their apartment. Using a cold weapon and threatening to kill them, the defendants took $2,000 from the citizens of the Russian Federation, as well as their mobile phones and laptop, after which they physically assaulted them and demanded an additional $300,000, otherwise they threatened to kill them. Several hours later, the victims were forced into different vehicles at gunpoint and taken to the Marneuli municipality.

As a result of the operational measures and investigative actions carried out in the criminal case, law enforcement officers detained all seven individuals as defendants in Marneuli and Gori.

Meanwhile, relevant measures are continuing to identify and detain other possible participants in the crime.

The investigation is being conducted under Articles 144 and 179 of the Criminal Code, which, by prior agreement, involve a group of two or more individuals, with intent to commit violence dangerous to life or health, taking hostages, and robbery committed by a group with the aim of illegally entering an apartment for the purpose of seizing a large amount of property, and provides for imprisonment for a term of up to 14 years.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs reports.