Two Residents of Yerevan Arrested for Counterfeit Currency

The investigative department of the Yerevan City Investigative Committee has unveiled the circumstances surrounding incidents of counterfeiting and distributing fake banknotes following investigative actions. Charges have been brought against two residents of Yerevan.

According to the press service of the Investigative Committee, on February 9, 2019, a letter was received from the HayBusinessBank CJSC to the National Police's Main Directorate for Fighting Organized Crime, indicating that during a cash collection on February 8, 2019, from the bank's self-service machine in the 2nd district of Nor Norq, eight $100 counterfeit bills were discovered.

In connection with the incident, a criminal case was initiated on February 9, 2019, under part 2, point 2 of Article 202 of the RA Criminal Code. This case was subsequently forwarded to the Nor Norq Investigative Division of the Investigative Committee.

Through investigative and operational-intelligence measures, the identities of the alleged offenders were established, both residents of Yerevan born in 1994 and 1988.

According to the obtained data, the 31-year-old and 24-year-old residents, having a prior agreement to acquire and distribute counterfeit money, possessed four counterfeit $100 bills, which did not comply with the standard features and protective elements of genuine banknotes. On February 9, 2019, they attempted to distribute these counterfeits at an HayBusinessBank ATM in the 2nd district of Nor Norq, where they were apprehended by police officers.

The crime scene was examined, and personal searches were conducted, resulting in the discovery of counterfeit banknotes of various denominations.

Based on a combination of the obtained evidence, charges have been brought against the 31-year-old and 24-year-old men under part 2, point 2 of Article 202 of the RA Criminal Code. They have been remanded in custody as a preventive measure.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing, with necessary investigative and procedural actions being conducted to clarify all circumstances surrounding the acquisition of the counterfeit banknotes.