Pre-trial Hearing on Khazaradze-Japaridze Case Postponed

The date of the pre-trial hearing of the case of TBC Bank Co-founders Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, has been postponed for a month. The basis for the abovementioned was a motion of the defense. The defendants' lawyer, Zviad Kordzadze, requested postponement of the pre-trial hearing scheduled for September 12.

Kordzadze talked about the current situation in the criminal case at today’s press conference.

“A pre-trial hearing was scheduled for September 12. On the basis of our motion, which was upheld by the court, the pre-trial hearing was postponed to October 10. The decision to seize (my clients') bank accounts, still remains in force", he said.

The bank accounts of Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze were seized in August.

The Prosecutor's Office applied to court with the relevant motion, having officially charged the founders of JSC TBC Bank in July. The two are accused of laundering a total sum of $16 754 000.

In addition, they paid the bail ordered on them by Tbilisi City Court – 700,000 GEL each.

The Tbilisi City Court ordered the bail on July 26.

Related Story: Lawyers of TBC Bank Co-founders May Apply to Strasbourg Court

By Ana Dumbadze