Officers of the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia — the Main Division for Combating Organized Crime and the Division for Combating Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration — together with the General Prosecutor’s Office, as a result of operational and investigative activities, detained a citizen born in 1997, identified as L.Kh., on charges of trafficking a minor, providing premises for prostitution, and facilitating prostitution. The information was released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

According to the agency, the crime is punishable by up to 12 years of imprisonment.

“The investigation established that the accused, with the intent of sexual exploitation, had previously recruited a minor girl and forced her to work in a massage parlor owned by the accused. Under her instructions, the minor provided sexual services to clients of the parlor in exchange for monetary compensation. Based on the evidence obtained, it was also established that the minor gave half of the earned money to L.Kh.

As a result of the investigative actions, L.Kh. was detained as an accused person.

The investigation is ongoing under Articles 254 (parts 1 and 2) and 143² (part 1) of the Criminal Code of Georgia,” the statement says.