Active investigatory and other procedural actions are ongoing in Lori Regional Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee to provide the comprehensive investigation of circumstances of swindling in particularly large amount from Vanadzor branch of «SEF International» universal credit organization. Preliminary investigation of the criminal case on the branch manager of “SEF International” universal credit organization was completed.

On January 1, 2018 at about 00:14 by opening the window through technical means the person having committed the alleged crime entered Vanadzor branch of “SEF International” organization then opened the safe and stole the cash money and the golden jewelry pawned by citizens.  

Through the criminal case initiated in Lori Regional Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee investigatory and operative-intelligence joint measures were taken, an investigatory group was formed, a plan of investigatory actions and operative-intelligence measures was worked out, working hypotheses were put forward.

In the result of investigatory and other procedural actions of great volume the mechanism of the theft was found out, factual data were obtained on the branch manager’s involvement in theft, his role was found out.  

Pursuant to data obtained during pretrial proceeding the theft had been planned in August, 2017 by the manager's initiative. An agreement on it was reached with another citizen – a resident of Yerevan, born in 1970. According to the agreement, from August to December, 2017 the citizen arrived in Vanadzor, examined and got acquainted with the area of the mentioned branch and the safe then took the key of one of the two locks of the safe from the manager and duplicated it.

Then on December 29, 2017 at about 17:40 the manager took the key of the second lock of the safe from the branch cashier, put it in the lock creating illusion as if he had locked the lock actually leaving it open.

On the same day at about 19:30 after the branch employees had left, the manager switched off the digital video recording system and stole golden jewelry and money in particularly large amount from the safe.

Pursuant to the agreement on January 1, 2018 at about 00:14 opening the branch window through technical means 47 year-old man entered the office, switched off the security system, opened the safe with the duplicated key, stole the rest of the jewelry and money.  

Through preliminary investigation it was found out that golden jewelry of 20 kg in total pawned by 415 borrowers cost 307 355 759 AMD, as well as 8 030 676 AMD and 7 354 USD which belonged to «SEF International» universal credit organization were secretly swindled by the manager of credit organization and 47 year-old man.

On the base of the evidence obtained during pretrial proceeding charge pressed formerly against the branch manager involved as a defendant within the criminal case changed and a new charge was pressed against him.

Through investigation data were obtained on other criminal manifestations committed by the branch manager of the credit organization, as well. Particularly, the manager serving the trade organization, using his authorities against the interests of that organization and in favor of other people, on April 19, 2016 formed and submitted a false document to Lori regional subdivision of State Committee of Real Estate Cadastre adjunct to the RA Government that the credit commitments of the mentioned entrepreneur had been allegedly completed in case they were not completed.  

As a result, using an obvious official document and based on it the ban against the plot of 0,27074 ha and the house of 140.43 s/m which belonged to the manager's father-in-law pawned for credit liability insurance of 12.414.900 AMD was withdrawn without completion of credit commitments of 6.369.258 AMD causing significant damage to “SEF International” organization.

On the base of the obtained sufficient evidence charge was pressed against Vanadzor branch manager of “SEF International” organization according to the Point 1 of the Part 3 of the Article 177, the Part 1 of the Article 214 and the Part 1 of the Article 325 of RA Criminal Code. Detention was chosen as a pretrial measure against him. The criminal case 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 court.

During preliminary investigation a part of the stolen items – golden jewelry cost 147 274 809 AMD and cash money were found. 8 real estate which belonged to the branch manager were seized to restore the damage caused.

On January 8, 2018 a decision was made to involve 47 year-old resident of Yerevan having committed swindling from credit organization, as a defendant according to the Point 1 of the Part 3 of the Article 177 of RA Criminal Code. Detention was chosen as a pretrial measure against him and search was declared. However, on January 28, 2018 at about 13:30 the latter's body was found at the second cemetery of Noragavit district of Yerevan. On November 20, 2018 a decision was made to stop the persecution against the man on the base of his death.

Preliminary investigation of the separated part is ongoing according to the Point 1 of the Part 3 of the Article 38-177 of RA Criminal Code (support to theft in particularly large amount).

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