Epress.am News from Armenia
Former Georgian forward Giorgi Demetradze, arrested last year on charges of involvement in betting fraud and blackmail, was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment by a Tbilisi municipal court, Georgian media reported Wednesday.
According to Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, Demetradze and two of his partners in crime (who also received prison sentences), in tandem with notorious criminal Vato Kipiani, extorted money from those who lost in illegal sports gambling.
This case deals with amounts won during the 2010 World Cup. Demetradze was convicted of an offense under paragraph 1 of Article 223 of Georgia’s Criminal Code (membership in the criminal underworld). The court also ruled to deprive him of his property and seized $30,000 US found during a search of his home.
Demetradze’s attorney intends to appeal the decision in the Court of Appeal.
The 34-year year formerly played for Feyenoord (Netherlands), Real Sociedad (Spain), Dynamo Kyiv (Ukraine), Arsenal Kyiv (Ukraine) and Metalurh Donetsk (Ukraine). He spent the best years of his career with Alania Vladikavkaz (Russia). In 1999, he was recognized as the top scorer in the Russian Top Division. He also played for FK Baku (Azerbaijan) in 2008, though he left the team in 2009. Returning to his homeland, Demetradze briefly played for Spartaki Tskhinvali (Georgia). While in Georgia’s national team, he played 56 matches and scored 12 goals.