Preliminary investigation of the criminal case initiated on poisoning of schoolchildren of secondary schools of Baghramyan and Aygezard villages was completed in Ararat Regional Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee. In the result of comprehensive, objective and complete investigation the source of children’s poisoning was found.

Through investigation of the criminal case it was found that on September 10 one of the private entrepreneurs manufacturing bakery in the village of Baghramyan of the region of Ararat, on the base of supply contract supplied the schools of Baghramyan, Aygezard and some other villages of Ararat region with bakery during production of which no sanitary-hygienic conditions had been maintained.

According to data of preliminary investigation the production had been organized by 62 year-old resident of Ararat region G. Nazaryan based on the warrant dated 01.09.2015 given by the private entrepreneur.

Being in charge of food safety from September 9 to September 10 he did not review risk sources and control strengthening joint application of rules of proper hygiene practice at every phase of production of cake, raisin cookie, potato pie, hot-dog made for teenage children of 13 secondary schools.

As a result, under the circumstances of excluding the risk of contamination and improper cleaning and disinfection of the equipments, tools and other supplies in direct contact with food he allowed to produce pastry with secondary contamination infected by bacteria of E. coli and Bacillus cereus type which did not meet safety requirements of the consumers’ health and was delivered to the secondary schools of Baghramyan and Aygezard villages of Ararat region on September 10, 2015 and sold to schoolchildren born between 1998 and 2008.

As a result, after eating the pastry exceeding the number of bacteria about 50 schoolchildren had food poisoning and nausea, pains in the abdomen, diarrhea, headache, chill and fever and were taken to the medical center with these clinical symptoms.

On the base of the evidence obtained during pretrial proceeding G. Nazaryan was charged according to the Points 1 and 2 of the Part 2 of the Article 279 of RA Criminal Code.  (Manufacture or sale of goods which do not meet safety requirements for the consumers’ life or health, or illegal issuance or use of certificates of compliance with safety requirements for these goods, works or services, if this action negligently damaged the health of two or more persons).

The criminal case with the bill of indictment was sent to the prosecutor supervising the legality of preliminary investigation.

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