Preliminary investigation of the criminal case initiated on abuses recorded in Stepanavan Territorial Agency of Social Assistance was completed on 25 defendants in Lori Regional Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee. Search was earlier declared against two more defendants.

It was earlier informed that a number of abuses in Stepanavan Territorial Agency of Social Assistance have been committed for a long time – from 2013 to June, 2018.

Particularly, pursuant to data obtained during pretrial proceeding, with the purpose of swindling in particularly large amount, reaching prior agreement with the head of Stepanavan Territorial Agency of Social Assistance of Staff of Lori Provincial Administration and postmen and senior operators of 5 post offices of «Haypost» CJSC, the employees of the same agency, abusing official authority, with the purpose of swindling money provided as a benefit to needy families by the state from May 1, 2013 to June 30, 2018 introducing false information about several socially insecure people to computer base of Stepanavan Territorial Agency, involved 692 citizens in beneficiaries' lists without informing them.

On its base they were involved in beneficiaries' lists, illegal benefits were formulated and the money was squandered.

Pursuant to data obtained through investigation while committing the mentioned swindling the employees of Stepanavan Territorial Agency cooperated with the employees of the post office that serves the mentioned area.

In order to conceal the swindling of benefit money, out of mercenary, as well as personal motives not to disclose the number of beneficiaries formally involved in the lists the employees of “Haypost” CJSC signed before the names of beneficiaries’ names involved formally in false lists and receiving the benefit money gave it to the agency employees. As a result, through postmen and senior operators money in particularly large amount - 550 617.000 AMD in total was received and swindled by cheating.

On the base of sufficient evidence obtained through investigation charge was pressed against 27 people according to the Point 1 of the Part 3 of the Article 178 and the Part 2 of the Article 325 of RA Criminal Code. 6 of the defendants are employees of Stepanavan Territorial Agency of Social Assistance, 21 – employees of “Haypost” CJSC.

Within the criminal case 107.000.000 AMD out of the damage caused to the state was restored by 25 defendants.  Preliminary investigation on 25 defendants was completed and the criminal case with the bill of indictment was sent to court. Signature not to leave was chosen as a pretrial measure against them.

The part on the head of Stepanavan Territorial Agency of Social Assistance A. Gharakeshishyan as well as the first-class specialist was separated as a separate proceeding. In order to ensure the restoration of the rest of the damage caused to the state - 443 617 000 AMD a ban was imposed on their property and bank accounts.

We remind that on July 25, 2018 search was declared against the head of Stepanavan Territorial Agency of Social Assistance A. Gharakeshishyan as well as the first-class specialist and detention was chosen as a pretrial measure against them.

Preliminary investigation of the criminal case of the separated part is ongoing.

Note; Everyone charged with alleged crime offence shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law.