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Compiled by Messenger Staff
Monday, March 7
More convicts leave prisons

Paroled prisoners have left certain prisons. The State Parole Commission finished its verbal hearing of 57 cases and accepted all of them on Friday. Consequently, all 57 convicts will be released before the expiry of their sentence, 24 Hours reports.

As it was reported by the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance, the recommendations for early release included cases of two women and one minor. The Parole Commission discusses applications of convicts once a month, where the lawyers and convicts are also present. Those, whose applications are approved, leave prison on the same day.



Georgians case in Malaysia

The hearing of the case of Georgian national Babutsa Gordadze has been moved to the court of highest instance, Malaysian news agencies report. As reported, Babutsa Gordadze was carrying not 5 kilograms but 1,710 grams of drug substances, when arrested, 24 Hours report.

The Georgian national is detained under the clause 39B of the local legislation that carries capital punishment.

Babutsa Gordadze and another Georgian national Darejan Kokhtashvili were arrested in Malaysia by local law enforcers on October 24, 2010. The police found large amounts of drugs in their luggage.

The conclusion of the chemical examination of the drugs, which the Georgian women transferred to Malaysia, has been conducted. According to the assessment the weight of the drugs substance was 1,710 grams.

Last week, a citizen of Georgia Eldar Davitiani, who is a husband of Babutsa Gordadze, one of the detained in Malaysia woman was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment by the Tbilisi City Court on charges of illegal transportation of drugs.

Davitiani surrendered to police and took the blame for the transportation of drugs, arguing that Babutsa Gordadze and Darejan Kohtashvili were not aware of presence of drugs in their baggage.

The Georgian side provided the Malaysian investigation with the testimony of Eldar Davitiani, Gordadze’s spouse, who pleaded guilty to the crime. Davitiani’s testimony may help the detainees.

Darejan Kokhtashvili and Babutsa Gordadze were detained in Malaysia on October 24. One of the detainees was arrested at an airport in Malaysia and the other one – at a hotel.

Due to the Malaysian legislation drugs’ smuggling is punishable by death.