Armenia's Special Investigation Service completes investigation into a case involving former president Serzh Sargsyan
20.01.2020,
15:12
Armenia's Special Investigation Service (SIS) said it has completed the preliminary criminal investigation into a case that involves former president Serzh Sargsyan.
YEREVAN, January 20. /ARKA/. Armenia's Special Investigation Service (SIS) said it has completed the preliminary criminal investigation into a case that involves former president Serzh Sargsyan, who is charged with organizing the embezzlement by a group of officials of 489 million drams (over $1 million) in government funds allocated in 2013 for the provision of subsidized diesel fuel to farmers.
According to an earlier SIS statement, Serzh Sargsyan, who served as president from April 9, 2008 to April 9, 2018, used his official position to organize with a group of officials the embezzlement of 489,160,310 drams (an equivalent of more than $1 million) in a period of time from January 25, 2013 to February 7, 2013.
According to SIS, acting on Serzh Sargsyan's order, a group of officials organized conclusion of a contract with Flash oil trader for supply of subsidized diesel fuel to rural communities, although another company, called Maxhur, which also participated in a government-announced tender for supply of 17 million liters of diesel fuel, offered a lower price.
SIS said as a result in 2013 February the government decided to release about 1.8 billion drams from its reserve fund, which were transferred to Flash oil trader's bank account. The scheme involved also two other senior officials of the ministry. Sargsyan rejected the accusation as politically motivated.
Sergo Karapetyan is charged with embezzlement, Serzh Sargsyan and the two senior officials- Samvel Galstyan and Gevork Harutyunyan - are charged with complicity. The criminal case with the indictment was sent to the prosecutor for approval and referring to court.
A suspect or accused of an alleged crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty according to a court order that enters into legal force in the manner established by the Code of Criminal Procedure of Armenia. -0-
According to an earlier SIS statement, Serzh Sargsyan, who served as president from April 9, 2008 to April 9, 2018, used his official position to organize with a group of officials the embezzlement of 489,160,310 drams (an equivalent of more than $1 million) in a period of time from January 25, 2013 to February 7, 2013.
According to SIS, acting on Serzh Sargsyan's order, a group of officials organized conclusion of a contract with Flash oil trader for supply of subsidized diesel fuel to rural communities, although another company, called Maxhur, which also participated in a government-announced tender for supply of 17 million liters of diesel fuel, offered a lower price.
SIS said as a result in 2013 February the government decided to release about 1.8 billion drams from its reserve fund, which were transferred to Flash oil trader's bank account. The scheme involved also two other senior officials of the ministry. Sargsyan rejected the accusation as politically motivated.
Sergo Karapetyan is charged with embezzlement, Serzh Sargsyan and the two senior officials- Samvel Galstyan and Gevork Harutyunyan - are charged with complicity. The criminal case with the indictment was sent to the prosecutor for approval and referring to court.
A suspect or accused of an alleged crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty according to a court order that enters into legal force in the manner established by the Code of Criminal Procedure of Armenia. -0-
