Customs inspector in Armenia faces allegations of misconduct, with damages exceeding 11.2 million drams

YEREVAN, September 1. /ARКА/. Armenia's Anti-Corruption Committee has finalized the preliminary investigation into a criminal case involving an employee of the State Revenue Committee.

The investigation revealed that the chief customs inspector at the Bagratashen customs point misused his official authority to the detriment of state interests by entering false data into the electronic system known as the "Single National Window for Foreign Trade".

The inspector falsely reported that a Volkswagen Touareg, temporarily imported from Georgia to Armenia for one year, had been exported from the Republic of Armenia, when in reality, the vehicle remained in Armenia and was not cleared through customs. This allowed the owner to utilize the vehicle without undergoing customs clearance. Consequently, the state incurred significant losses amounting to over 11 million 234 thousand drams (nearly $30 thousand).

The customs officer has been charged under two articles of the Armenian Criminal Code - Article 441 ("Abuse of official or official powers") and Article 445 ("Official forgery"). Preventive measures include a travel ban and temporary suspension from duty. The case has been forwarded to the Anti-Corruption Court. -0-