Extortion Suspect MP Sentenced to Pretrial Custody

Court sentenced today Giorgi Kenchadze, MP from the ruling National Movement ? Democrats party to three-month pretrial detention.

The Prosecutor?s Office accused Kenchadze, 33, of extortion. The Parliament lifted on May 20 Giorgi Kenchadze?s MP immunity.

According to the law enforcers Kenchadze demanded USD 100,000 from Adjarian businessman and issued threats that the General Prosecutor?s Office would probe his business if the money was not paid.

Kenchadze was arrested on May 19 as the money was handed over to him by the Adjarian businessman whose name was not disclosed.

Giorgi Kenchadze enjoys the right to silence and refuses to cooperate with the investigation.

MP Elene Tevdoradze, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Human Rights, met Kenchadze in the detention facility.

?He [Kenchadze] admits the fact of money hand over, but all the other circumstances of the case seem very doubtful,? Elene Tevdoradze said after the meeting with Kenchadze. She gave no other detail of talks, which were confidential.