Zaza Sopromadze, chief of the State Pension Fund, was arrested late on October 18 and charged with misuse of office.

Four other officials from the State Pension Fund were also arrested and accused of taking bribes.

Deputy Prosecutor General Kakha Koberidze said on October 19 that the case involves the embezzlement of state funds worth of GEL 570,000.

Koberidze added that the investigation has yet to discover whether the chief of the State Pension Fund was himself involved in the embezzlement scheme.