In the result of active investigatory and other procedural actions conducted in the framework of the criminal case investigated in the proceeding of Stepanavan Investigative Division of Lori Regional Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee the frame of those related to apparent abuses recorded in Stepanavan Territorial Agency of Social Assistance is clarified, 21 people were involved as a defendant, search was declared against two of them.

It was earlier informed that through preliminary investigation actual data were obtained that a number of abuses have been committed in Stepanavan Territorial Agency of Social Assistance from 2013 to June, 2018.  

In the result of measures of great volume a number of circumstances of abuses as well as the mechanism were found out.

Pursuant to investigation data false information about several socially insecure people was introduced to computer base of Stepanavan Territorial Agency, their names were involved in beneficiaries' lists, illegal benefits were formulated and the money was squandered.

According to initial data the damage caused to the state is 587.160.000 AMD.

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

Through criminal case sufficient data were obtained on 21 people’s relation to apparent abuses. Charges were pressed against them 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 them are employees of Stepanavan Territorial Agency of Social Assistance, 3 of them are employees of «Haypost» CJSC.

Signature not to leave was chosen against 19 of the defendants.

On July 25 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.

As of August 9, 27.378.000 AMD was restored within the mentioned criminal case by the defendants. In order to provide the restoration of the damage caused to the state a ban was imposed on property of the wanted A. Gharakeshishyan and other defendants who are the employees of the agency.

Preliminary investigation is ongoing.

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