---
title: "Embezzlement Defense"
url: "https://legal.ge/en/service/crim-criminal-law-en/embezzlement-defense-50-en"
field: "Criminal Law"
description: "Article 182 — embezzlement in Georgia: from a fine up to eleven years in prison. Experienced property crime lawyer Legal.ge."
reviewed: "2026-07-09"
updated: "2026-10-14"
publisher: "legal.ge"
---

# Embezzlement Defense

> Source: legal.ge, https://legal.ge/en/service/crim-criminal-law-en/embezzlement-defense-50-en

## What Article 182 of the Criminal Code of Georgia regulates

Misappropriation and squandering are property offences provided for by Article 182 of the Criminal Code of Georgia. Under the law, the offence consists in the unlawful misappropriation or squandering of another person's thing or property right, where that thing or property right was in the lawful possession or administration of the misappropriator or squanderer. This last circumstance is the distinguishing feature of the offence: the property had been lawfully entrusted to the person, but he or she used it for personal benefit against the will of the owner.

In practice, this category often concerns employees, managers, accountants, persons responsible for materials, and anyone who held another person's property on an occupational or other basis. If a charge under this article concerns your family, or you are the victim, it is important to know the exact content of every part of the norm.

The full text is available on legal.ge after signing in: https://legal.ge/en/service/crim-criminal-law-en/embezzlement-defense-50-en

### What punishment is provided for misappropriation and squandering?

For the basic composition — a fine, house arrest from six months to two years, or imprisonment from three to five years. For qualified compositions — a fine or imprisonment from four to seven years, and in the most serious cases imprisonment from seven to eleven years.

### What distinguishes this offence from other property crimes?

The distinguishing feature is lawful possession or administration: the property had been lawfully entrusted to the person, and he or she misappropriated or squandered it against the will of the owner.

### When is the act punishable by seven to eleven years?

When it is committed by an organized group, in a large amount, or by a person convicted two or more times for unlawful appropriation of another's property or for extortion.

### What does a lawyer verify in such a case?

The fact of lawful possession, the element of unlawfulness, the amount of the damage, the aggravating elements, the financial and accounting evidence, and any previous convictions.