The preliminary investigation of the criminal case investigated against ex Minister of Nature Protection Aram Harutyunyan for bribery of $14 million, money laundering and other corruption-related abuses has been accomplished, as RA Anti-Corruption Committee informs.
In particular, the preliminary investigation revealed the criminal scheme of money laundering by ex-Minister of Nature Protection Aram Harutyunyan in the amount of 4.2 billion AMD, equivalent to 14 million USD, as well as other corruptive abuses with the involvement of ex MP Alexan Petrosyan, Suren Avagyan, former deputy director of SNCO under the direct supervision of the department headed by A. Harutyunyan, Gagik Karapetyan, former director of Sevan Psychiatric Hospital, as well as other close associates of Aram Harutyunyan - Araks Dilanyan and Victor Martirosyan.
According to the allegation, Aram Harutyunyan, having been the Minister of RA Nature Protection since June 8, 2007, at the same time being the chairman of the interdepartmental tender commission for the development of mineral rights for entrails containing strategically important minerals, received a bribe of $ 14 million, equivalent to 4.2 billion AMD, from businesswoman Silva Hambardzumyan to issue 10 special licenses for exploration of mines, to extend the prospecting period, to obtain a mining permit in her favor.
As a result, during January-November 2008, 10 special licenses for the prospecting of mines located in different settlements in Syunik, Lori, Gegharkunik and Kotayk Regions were passed to to the disposal of companies owned by S. Hambardzumyan. During the same period, the latter withdrew cash from her bank accounts and gave him a $ 6 million bribe through Suren Avagyan.
The other part of the requested bribe, $ 8 million, Aram Harutyunyan received with the help of his relatives by transferring to various accounts opened in the United Arab Emirates.
The investigation revealed that A. Harutyunyan, in accordance with the agreement reached with his close friend Alexan Petrosyan, transferred more than $ 3 million in March 2011 to the bank account of Tarasco Investment LLC belonging to A. Petrosyan located in Zurich, Switzerland, registered on the British Virgin Islands, in order to conceal the source of the above-mentioned money.
During the same period, Victor Martirosyan, at the suggestion of A. Harutyunyan, also transferred over illegally received $ 2 million to the above-mentioned bank account of "Tarasco Investment" LLC in order to hide the real source of the money transferred to his bank account.
After that, under the interest-free loan agreement signed between Tarasco Investment LLC and MAP CJSC on January 5, 2009, Alexan Petrosyan transferred $ 2,792,730 out of this amount to MAP from March 29 to August 25, 2011 and managed the rest through Tarasco Investment LLC for business purposes.
Along with transferring money from the bank accounts of "Tarasco Investment" LLC to the account of "MAP" CJSC, in the period from April 2011 to December 2016 Alexan Petrosyan, both from the mentioned sums and from his personal means, gave back to Aram Harutyunyan in instalments the money the latter had transferred to the account of "Tarasco Investment" in the total amount of USD 5,049,00 equivalent to AMD 1,861,586,143.
Besides, the preliminary investigation revealed that Aram Harutyunyan, in March 2011, together with certain officials of the Ministry of Nature Protection, used his official position against the interests of the service, did not fulfill his official duties, as a result of which "Jradzor" SHPP belonging to "Ani" OJSC was granted a 24-hour water use permit, which caused significant damage to the rights and legal interests of "Ersted" LLC, which incurred serious consequences.
Detention of Aram Harutyunyan, Suren Avagyan and Gagik Karapetyan was chosen as a precautionary measure. A total of $ 30 million in assets and property were seized from them.
Notice: Every person suspected in or charged with a criminal offense shall be presumed innocent unless proved guilty in the manner prescribed by RA Criminal Procedure Code and unless the verdict comes into legal force.
January 15, 2022 at 12:13