Major Theft at Yerevan Thermal Power Plant: 9 Arrested

The Investigative Committee of Armenia's Shengavit administrative district has disclosed a case of major theft perpetrated by an organized group. Charges have been filed against 9 individuals.

According to preliminary data, 9 residents of Yerevan intended to commit theft from the Yerevan Thermal Power Plant (TPP), having reached an agreement, assigned roles, and planned to secretly steal property of substantial value while monitoring the area with installed cameras.

The investigation revealed that the mentioned individuals entered the facility between February 2019 and March 4, 2019, and using selected technical means, secretly cut copper wires from a transformer.

Subsequently, the stolen goods were transported using 7 vehicles to the backyard of one of the accomplices, after which the stolen copper wires were sold at metal recycling points, causing a total property damage of 21,490,349.41 AMD to the TPP.

A criminal case has been initiated by the Shengavit division of the Police under Article 177, Part 3, Clause 2 of the Criminal Code of Armenia, which has been accepted for preliminary investigation by the Investigative Committee.

As a result of investigative actions and operational-search measures, the identities of the 9 individuals involved in the theft have been established, and they have been arrested.

Based on the collected sufficient evidence, charges have been filed against these 9 individuals under Article 177, Part 3, Clauses 1 and 2 of the Criminal Code of Armenia.

The investigator has submitted a motion to the court to choose detention as a preventive measure, which has been granted.

The investigation is ongoing, with necessary investigative actions being undertaken to ascertain any other possible criminal acts committed by the same group and the involvement of other individuals.