# Abuse of office and exceeding authority — lawyer We defend public officials, employees of public legal entities and company managers charged with abuse of official authority, exceeding authority or negligence. - Confidential - Georgian · English · Russian - Free first consultation - Courts of all instances Abuse of official authority (Article 332) and exceeding authority (Article 333) by an official are crimes if they cause a substantial breach of a person's, society's or the state's lawful interests. For private company managers, Article 220 — abuse of authority in a company — and Article 220¹, negligence, apply. In these cases it often comes down to what powers the person had, who made the decision, whether there was an aim of gain, and how 'substantial' the breach was. Many mistakes are administrative or disciplinary matters, not crimes. ## Penalties - Articles 332 and 333, basic offence — a fine, house arrest from 6 months to 2 years, or up to 3 years in prison, with a ban on holding office for up to 3 years - By a holder of a political state office — a fine or 3 to 5 years - Repeatedly, with violence or a weapon, or insulting the victim's dignity — 5 to 8 years - Article 220 (in a company, causing significant damage) — a fine, corrective labour, house arrest or 3 to 5 years ## Our services - Abuse of official authority - Exceeding official authority - Abuse of authority in a company - Negligence - Public procurement cases - Reviewing covert investigative actions ## Questions & answers ### Who counts as an official? Public servants and persons treated as such, including employees of public legal entities who exercise public authority. ### Can a private company director be liable? Not under Article 332, but possibly under Article 220 — if they used their authority against the company's interests for gain and caused significant damage. ### Is every mistake at work a crime? No. There must be a substantial breach of rights or interests, and for abuse of authority also an aim of gain or advantage. ## Legal basis - [Criminal Code of Georgia](https://matsne.gov.ge/ka/document/view/16426) - [Criminal Procedure Code of Georgia](https://matsne.gov.ge/ka/document/view/90034) Official texts (in Georgian) — Legislative Herald of Georgia, matsne.gov.ge. ## Related topics - [#Criminal law](https://mmlaw.ge/en/criminal-defense-lawyer/) - [#Public authorities](https://mmlaw.ge/en/administrative-law-lawyer/) - - [Drunk driving in Georgia: fines, licence, prison](https://mmlaw.ge/en/blog/drunk-driving-in-georgia/) - - [Corruption crime lawyer](https://mmlaw.ge/en/corruption-crime-lawyer/) - - [Criminal defence lawyer](https://mmlaw.ge/en/criminal-defense-lawyer/) - - [Cybercrime lawyer](https://mmlaw.ge/en/cybercrime-lawyer/) - - [Juvenile lawyer in Georgia: legal help for minors](https://mmlaw.ge/en/juvenile-justice-lawyer/) - - [Detained in Georgia? 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