In the framework of the criminal case investigated in the Investigative Division of Avan and Nor Norq administrative districts of the RA Investigative Committee a number of circumstances of banditry committed on March 16 against currency exchange office were found, the person having committed the apparent crime was identified. 
 

On March 16 at 17:40 a call was received informing that banditry had been committed against the currency exchange office located at the market of Nor Norq.
 

Through preliminary investigation of the criminal case investigated in the Investigative Division of Avan and Nor Norq administrative districts it was found that banditry had been preceded by another crime. According to preliminary investigation data, on March 16, 2016 at about 14:00 with the purpose of capturing somebody’s property by banditry, taking a rifle, mask and sticky tape beforehand the resident of Yerevan, A. Mnatsakanyan, born in 1975, stopped “Mercedes Benz” driven as a taxi at the crossroad of Heratsi and Koryun Streets of Yerevan and ordered the driver to drive to Nor Norq administrative district. Getting to an area called “vehicles’ park” in Nor Norq the driver stopped the car at A. Mnatsakanyan’s request after which at gunpoint the latter forced the driver to sit at the back of the car, tied his hands and feet with sticky tape, closed his eyes and he himself started to drive.  
 

Getting to Gay Avenue A. Mnatsakanyan wore the mask and approached the currency exchange office which belonged to entrepreneur H. Asatryan and was located near the market of Nor Norq. Getting out of the car the masked person demanded money threatening to use violence dangerous for H. Asatryan’s life and health. However, being refused, with the purpose of killing the latter he fired numerous shots towards him in a way dangerous for many people’s life. Hearing the shots the employees of neighboring booths came up to the currency exchange office and the masked man escaped in a car.
 

On the base of the obtained evidence on March 21 charge was pressed against A. Mnatsakanyan according to the Point 4 of the Part 2 of the Article 175 (banditry by using weapon), the Points 2 and 3 of the Part 2 of the Article 131 (kidnapping using violence dangerous for life or health, or with a threat of violence, by using weapon), the Point 3 of the Part 3 of the Article 183 (gaining illegal control of a car with violence dangerous for life or health, or with a threat of violence) and the Point 1 of the Article 235 (illegal procurement, keeping of weapon) of RA Criminal Code.
 

The investigator submitted a motion to court to use detention as a pretrial measure against the defendant. The motion was sufficed.
 

Preliminary investigation of the criminal case is ongoing.
 

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