Preliminary investigation of the criminal case initiated on abuses recorded in Stepanavan Territorial Agency of Social Assistance was completed on the part of the agency head in Stepanavan Investigative Division of Lori Regional Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee.

It was earlier informed that 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. Based on it the latters were involved in the beneficiaries’ list, illegal benefits were formulated and the money was squandered.

In the result of comprehensive investigation actual data were obtained on the allegation that while committing the mentioned swindling the employees of the Agency cooperated with the employees of the post office that serves the mentioned area that is 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. 

It was earlier informed that within the criminal case two persons – the agency head and the first class specialist were involved as a defendant 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. Detention was chosen as a pretrial measure against them and search was declared.

During preliminary investigation of the criminal case on May 28, 2019 the agency head turned himself to the investigative body and charge was pressed against him 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. The investigator submitted a motion to court to reconfirm detention as a pretrial measure against him which was sufficed.However, the court considered permissible to use mortgage as an optional pretrial measure against him.

In order to ensure the restoration of the rest of the damage caused to the state, by the investigator's decision a ban was imposed on his property and bank accounts.

Considering that the evidence obtained through preliminary investigation are sufficient to send the criminal case to court, the count on his part was separated in a separate proceeding, preliminary investigation was completed and the criminal case with the bill of indictment was sent to prosecutor supervising the legality of preliminary investigation.

We remind that on the base of the obtained evidence charge was pressed against 27 persons 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, 21 – employees of “Haypost” CJSC. Preliminary investigation on 25 defendants was completed in January, 2019 and the criminal case with the bill of indictment was sent to court.

As of the other defendant under persecution – the first class specialist of the agency, relevant operative-intelligence and operative-searching measures are ongoing to find him.

As of today, out of the damage caused to the state -550.617.500 AMD 112․181․600 AMD has been recovered.

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