Defense Claims Judge Accused of Bribery Had $2400 Instead of $2500

Judge Gagik Heboyan, arrested on March 27, has been charged under parts 2 and 3 of Article 311 of the Criminal Code for receiving a particularly large bribe.

Hetq interviewed the judge's lawyer, Kromvel Grigoryan. Below are excerpts from the interview.

- Mr. Grigoryan, was the treatment of Gagik Heboyan by the NSS officers during his detention normal? Did he express any dissatisfaction?

- The treatment was normal; they stopped the car and found money during a personal search.

- Has Heboyan testified in his capacity as a suspect? According to the statement from the prosecution, the amount of money found on him was $2500. Is this accurate?

- He had $2400. Yes, he has testified in his capacity as a suspect. According to Gagik Heboyan, this was part of a debt given to him by lawyer Vahagn Danielyan.

- According to the judge, how much did he owe lawyer Vahagn Danielyan? Under what circumstances did he give money to the lawyer?

- In December 2018, the lawyer asked Gagik Heboyan for $3000 for personal needs, and he gave it.

- Mr. Grigoryan, the NSS previously announced that they had information about the judge demanding a bribe, and that the bribe money was transferred to the judge under the control of the NSS through an accomplice lawyer.

- I do not know what the NSS has done; how involved the lawyer is with them, but Gagik Heboyan going to collect the debt is definitely true.

- What kind of relationship did the judge have with lawyer Vahagn Danielyan?

- They had a normal relationship; if it was not normal, would he lend $3000?

- There were reports circulating that Vahagn Danielyan was not found. Do you have precise information on whether he was eventually located, detained, or presented to the investigating body?

- We do not know if he has been found or if he is initially with them and undergoing processing. It is possible they are preparing him to testify against the judge.

- If you say that Heboyan and Danielyan have a normal relationship, why would the latter testify against the judge?

- Under those conditions, he might forget their normal relationship and testify against him.

- According to the investigating body, from whom did Gagik Heboyan demand a bribe?

- It was from the citizen against whom Heboyan had issued a ruling, Benik Harutyunyan.

- According to the investigating body, did Gagik Heboyan receive as much money as he demanded from the citizen?

- According to the accusation, he requested $3500 and then negotiated it down to $2500.

- When did the citizen file a report with the NSS?

- On March 18, the judge issued a ruling in the case against him and denied the claim; on March 25, the citizen went and filed the report. When Heboyan went to collect the debt, the money was being processed by the lawyer; it cannot be ruled out that the lawyer was also collaborating with the NSS.

- According to the NSS statement, Heboyan was arrested immediately after receiving the bribe. It turns out that the money was given to him on March 27, the day of his arrest. If Heboyan had already issued a ruling against Benik Harutyunyan on March 18, then according to the investigating body, why did the citizen give him a bribe on March 27?

- There is no logic; he rejected the man's demand, why would he give a bribe?

- Did the Special Investigation Service submit a request to the court to arrest Heboyan?

- Yes, the request is being examined today.

- Have you filed a complaint against his arrest?

- No.

Source: hetq.am