2018 July 16

Anti-Corruption Daily

Anti-corruption 7/16/2018: 1) NSS uncovers criminal ring that took bribes to falsify military recruits' medical records 2) Serj's nephew wanted for another case where he, with bodyguard, tortured a potential business competitor 3) HHK MP distributed AMD 13mln as election bribe 4) (MORE ⚖ BELOW)
by ar_david_hh

Disclaimer: All the accused are innocent until proven guilty by the court of law, even if they may sound as being guilty. Currency in Armenian Drams ֏ unless specified otherwise.

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Serj's nephew, who is currently wanted for an attempted murder on 2007, is now a primary suspect of another case. The police has gathered enough evidence to press charges for abduction, torture and death threats against another victim, who tried to open a night club. Sargsyan didn't like the possible competitor, so he conspired with the bodyguard to abduct and torture the victim and forced him to cancel the business plans, says the report http://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/141700

NSS (ԱԱՑ) uncovers multiple criminals rings involving high ranking officials, doctors, hospital staff, military commissariats. They took $14,0000 bribes from over 40 recruits to exclude them from army by falsifying medical records. Criminal case is launched, dozens of individuals are questioned, 20 raids have been carried out, 3 of the masterminds are under arrest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftbCSAu-vnE

Bombshell reports from Malishka mayor case. He accepted AMD 13,000,000 from HHK MP Ashot Arsenyan, who recently left HHK, and distributed it to residents as bribe to get him elected. The mayor and another local official conspired to steal over AMD 2,000,000 by taking salaries from a non-existent employee. Stole AMD 400,000 by fraudulently registering unsuspecting 11 residents as social security recipients. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HB-3_vMnDY

Criminal case is launched against the director and two staff members of N1 Stephan Shahumyan School for embezzlement of large sums http://investigative.am/news/view/shahumyani-dproc-charashahumner.html

The President and the PM meet with the new acting director of All-Armenian Fund. Efforts are being made to save the cooperation between the fund and the government, after the former director was arrested for stealing parts of the donated money http://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/141710 ---- http://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/141709

Mecavan mayor is charged with embezzlement of AMD 7,000,000 after registering non-existent employees, stealing public property. He has admitted the guilt and returned all of the stolen money https://www.aysor.am/am/news/2018/07/16/Մեծավանի-գյուղապետ/1442993

Former Vardablur mayor is being investigated for fraud and embezzlement. He issued fake licenses to local farmers to use their equipment, then stole the compensation money. Stole salaries from two non-existent employees. Issued social security support checks under unsuspecting residents' names, then stole the funds. The mayor is wanted for theft of AMD 4,000,000 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpJtdE_EtCI

EU ambassador recalls their programs to fight corruption in Armenia, and the difficulties they faced with the previous administration, and how EU's investigation found that some of the funds were misused https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70pYq96WcAU

EU decides how much support to issue to Armenia once every 7 years. The next decision will be made on 2020. EU ambassador says they want to increase the support https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heIM3XRuq74

Criminal case is launched involving 12 mineral water exfiltration companies for falsifying documents to show less production, subsequently under-paying AMD 230,000,000 in taxes. http://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/141709

Acting mayor of Hrazdan lists the issues that the city faces, the inappropriate management by the previous government that led to degradation of the city and manufacturing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaWahnwg9Lo

Criminal case is launched against Kotayk Beer factory administrator regarding the high-pressure equipment explosion at Burger King, which left 9 people wounded on April 2, 2018. https://youtu.be/ht8pg9jeNKw?t=28

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Minister of Emergency Situations finds instances where employees used the department's transpiration for personal purposes. Instructs to end the practice http://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/141679

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Armenian Foreign Ministry is assessing the threat towards Belarusian blogger (with Armenian origins) who recently visited Azerbaijan. Could provide assistance is needed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jwfxn9p8RKU

Deputy Prime Minister's communications coordinator to resign after public backlash. Earlier, he said one of the heroes who died during the 4-day Artsakh battles "was so young, he probably didn't even know what he was doing." http://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/141721

As expected, Yerevan mayor is not elected after only 5 Council members show up for voting. Things are headed to Council being dismissed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLeVewoN-B0

Another Sasna Tsrer member is released from prison. He was accused of organizing riots https://www.aysor.am/am/news/2018/07/16/Արարատ/1442917

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Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/8zer05/anticorruption_7162018_1_nss_uncovers_criminal/