Friday, March 17 2023 12:34

ArmInfo. The charge was changed against a high-ranking police official, who, according to the charge, laundered not only his own income, but also the criminally acquired income of his  former boss Vladimir Gasparyan. The prosecutor decided to initiate a criminal case against him, the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia reports.

On March 15, 2023, the prosecutor issued a new decision to initiate a  criminal case against A.H. (Arshak Hakobyan-ed. note), who served in  the Ministry of Defense in 1997-2011, and in 2011-2018, and held the  positions of Deputy Head of the 4th Department and Head of the 5th  Division of the Main Police Department for Combating Organized Crime  of the Police.

Based on the materials of the criminal case considered by the  Anti-Corruption Committee, it was proved that A.H., being an official  who performed public service in 1994-2018, illegally participated in  entrepreneurial activities, as well as other corrupt activities, then  laundered the proceeds obtained through criminal means, concealed and  distorted the true nature of the acquired property, criminal origin  purpose, gave them a legal form.  In particular, during 2008-2010, he  acquired 100% of the shares of " URBANIZM-PETROL " LLC in the name of  his wife and 9-year-old son. In 2011, again in the name of his wife,  he purchased real estate located in the 2nd industrial district of  the city of Abovyan, Kotayk region, worth 75 million drams, in 2012,  real estate located on Amiryan Street in the city of Kotayk for 120  million drams. 

Yerevan, in 2013, for 204 million 250 thousand drams, real estate on  Hanrapetutyun Street in Yerevan, and in 2014 for 144 million 375  thousand drams - 100% of the shares of "OVSAS" LLC. In 2014, he began  a fictitious alienation of the acquired property to relatives under  formal donation and sale and purchase agreements.  In 2011, again in  the name of his wife, he acquired a real estate worth 75 million  drams in the 2nd industrial district of Abovyan city, Kotayk region,  in 2012, a real estate located on Amiryan street in Yerevan, for 120  million drams, in 2013 real estate on Hanrapetutyun street in Yerevan  for 204 million 250 thousand drams, and in 2014, 100% of the shares  of "OVSAS" LLC for 144 million 375 thousand drams. In 2014, he began  a fictitious alienation of the acquired property to relatives under  formal donation and sale and purchase agreements.

Thus, according to the data obtained during the preliminary  investigation, it is substantiated that A.H laundered especially  large amounts obtained by criminal means: 351 million 497 thousand  422 drams and real estate in the amount of 75 million drams.

In addition, as noted, A.H., who actually performed the functions of  the head of the security service of the former head of the RA police  V.G. (Vladimir Gasparyan - ed.), laundered the property of the latter  on an especially large scale.

, the  message says.  Thus, according to the data obtained during the  preliminary investigation, it is substantiated that A.H. by prior  agreement with the former Chief of Police V.G. hid property on an  especially large scale, obtained as a result of the criminal  activities of the latter, for a total amount of 151 million 756  thousand drams.  In addition, A.H. since 2017, being obliged to  submit an annual declaration of property and income to the Commission  on Ethics of High-Ranking Officials of the Republic of Armenia, in  the declaration filed on March 22, 2018,  deliberately did not  indicate a loan in the amount of $100,000, issued on August 23, 2017  by one of the banks which led to non-declaration of the specified  especially large property.  On the basis of the above stated decision  of the supervising prosecutor in relation to A.H. A new criminal  prosecution was initiated under Article 190, Part 3, Point 1 (Episode  2, money laundering) and Part 2, Article 314.3 of the RA Criminal  Code, adopted on April 18, 2003 (concealment of information subject  to declaration).  Earlier, by the decision of the RA Court of  Cassation of December 23, 2022, the cassation appeal of the RA  Prosecutor General was satisfied, the application of an alternative  preventive measure against A.H. was found insufficient, as a result  of which A.H. was arrested (continues to be in custody). He was  charged with declaring false information. In particular, he  deliberately did not include part of the property (on an especially  large scale) in his declaration. And in December 2021,  former Chief  of the Armenian police, Vladimir Gasparyan, was charged with money  laundering in the amount of more than 2 billion drams, embezzlement,  forgery and abuse of power. During the investigation, the cases of  Gasparyan and Hakobyan were combined.