Preliminary investigation of the criminal case initiated on swindling and squandering by using citizens’ data, forging signatures committed by a group of people with prior agreement was completed on four defendants. 15 physical and legal entities were found the affected party.

In the result of investigatory and other procedural actions conducted during pretrial proceeding a number of circumstances of cases were found out, four persons having committed the alleged crime were identified, the mechanisms of crimes were found out.

Through preliminary investigation it was particularly found out that the resident of Yerevan, born in 1967, committed swindling by cheating involving his daughter, born in 2000.

Pursuant to investigation data, 52 year-old man together with his 19 year-old daughter sought on the internet and found announcements on sale of phones after which the daughter called and told that she wanted to buy the phone reaching agreement on meeting. During the meeting father offered to pay in RF Rubbles for the phone, however he paid in fake banknotes instead of real ones.

Seven criminal cases were initiated and a decision was made to join them and conduct preliminary investigation in one proceeding.

During preliminary investigation of the criminal case it was found out that 52 year-old man had also committed other counts of swindling and forgery.

Particularly, it was found out the latter, with prior agreement with a group of people, using passport data of several citizens signed contracts on credit sale of goods with several banks and forging the citizens’ signatures procured and swindled various types of equipment.

In the result of investigatory actions of great volume the source of citizens’ passport data acquisition was found out, a whole chain of swindling and forgery was disclosed, as well, two more persons having committed the mentioned acts were identified, the mechanism was found out.

Thus, through investigation data were obtained on the allegation that 52 year-old man as well as one more person – a resident of Ejmiatsin town, born in 1987, were provided with passport data of several citizens by a resident of Yeghegnadzor town, born in 1994, who worked in sales and service office of one of telecommunication companies operating in Armenia as a senior specialist.

It was found out that the latter, as well as the above-mentioned two persons and a number of unknown persons using the passport data of customers who had applied to the office, forging their signatures, signed contracts on credit sale of goods with several banks procuring and swindling equipment of several types. Then, pursuant to the agreement, they sold the procured equipment and possessed the money causing pecuniary damage in large amount.

In the result of investigatory and other procedural actions conducted during preliminary investigation a part of the goods swindled by cheating was found and confiscated.

Besides, it was also found out that 25 year-old resident of Yeghegnadzor, being in charge of money and property of the office of the telecommunication company, using his official position part by part swindled 889.680 AMD entrusted to him, as well as 73 types of various goods cost 2.947.347, 02 AMD, in total – mobile phones, phone accessories, laser disk containing a computer antivirus program, mobile internet modem and other ones causing the company pecuniary damage in particularly large amount - 3.837.027,02 AMD.

Pursuant to investigation data, the damage caused to citizens and legal entities is 21 million 621 thousand AMD, in total.

On the base of the obtained sufficient evidence charge was pressed against the resident of Yeghegnadzor town according to the Part 1 of the Article 178 (3 counts), the Point 1 of the Part 2 of the Article 178 (29 counts), the Point 2 of the Part 2 of the Article 178 (16 counts), the Points 1 and 2 of the Part 2 of the Article 34-178, the Point 1 of the Part 3 of the Article 179, the Part 1 of the Article 325 (12 counts), the Part 2 of the Article 325 (29 counts) of RA Criminal Code.

Charge was pressed against the resident of Ejmiatsin according to the Point 1 of the Part 2 of the Article 178 (4 counts), the Point 2 of the Part 2 of the Article 178 (2 counts) and the Part 2 of the Article 325 (4 counts) of RA Criminal Code.

Charge was pressed against the resident of Yerevan according to the Point 1 of the Part 2 of the Article 178 (7 counts), the Points 1 and 2 of the Part 2 of the Article 178, the Part 2 of the Article 325, the Points 1 and 2 of the Part 2 of the Article 34-178 of RA Criminal Code and against the latter’s daughter – according to the Point 1 of the Part 2 of the Article 178 (7 counts) of RA Criminal Code.

Detention was chosen as a pretrial measure against the resident of Yeghegnadzor town, signature not to leave was chosen as a pretrial measure against the other three.

Preliminary investigation on 4 defendants was completed and the criminal case with the bill of indictment was sent to court.

Preliminary investigation is ongoing to find others possibly involved in swindling.

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