Motion Filed for the Arrest of Mihran Poghosyan

Within the framework of a criminal case being investigated by the Special Investigative Service of Armenia, former chief executive officer of judicial acts Mihran Poghosyan has been involved as a suspect under part 1 of Article 179 and part 2 of Article 308 of the Criminal Code of Armenia for committing publicly dangerous acts, where he is accused of embezzling state property in particularly large amounts and abusing his official authority, which caused severe consequences.

This was reported by the Special Investigative Service of Armenia.

According to the indictment, Mihran Poghosyan, who held the position of chief executive officer of judicial acts since June 11, 2008, appointed a personal security officer as a first-class advisor in the operational division of the Judicial Acts Compulsory Enforcement Service, Ministry of Justice, while his personal driver was appointed as a chief advisor in the same division. These individuals, as employees of the mentioned division, did not actually attend work and did not fulfill duties arising from their positions. Instead, they executed personal assignments given by Mihran Poghosyan, but under his direction, they received salaries and equivalent payments totaling 44,199,463 Armenian Drams.

As a result, Mihran Poghosyan, using his official position, embezzled a particularly large sum of 44,199,463 Armenian Drams from the state budget.

Moreover, Mihran Poghosyan, abusing his official position contrary to the interests of the service, violated the requirements established by law and government decisions by concluding contracts for purchasing goods and providing services through trusted individuals with organizations engaged in business activities managed by him.

Thus, between 2011 and 2016, Mihran Poghosyan procured a total of 32 «Bid» brand vehicles worth 211,158,000 Armenian Drams from the «Catherine Group» LLC, which he had founded in 1997 and subsequently sold to another entity but was actually managed by him. Out of these, 20 vehicles were acquired for approximately 20,000,000 Armenian Drams above the actual sale price during the same period, thereby causing particularly large property damage to the legitimate interests of the state, resulting in severe consequences.

Additionally, in 2011, Mihran Poghosyan established businesses in Panama through foreign citizens, namely «Hopkinton Trading Incorporated» and «Sigtm Real Estate Incorporated», and in October of the same year, individuals close to him replaced the foreign directors of these companies in the corresponding positions. Subsequently, through trusted persons, Mihran Poghosyan participated in the management of these companies registered in the offshore zone of Panama, leading to the establishment of other companies in Armenia, including «Best Realty» LLC.

By granting benefits and advantages as part of his official duties to the mentioned company, on April 17, 2014, he signed a contract for the appraisal of real and movable property with «Best Realty» LLC, which he effectively managed. Based on this contract, the company provided real and movable property appraisal services to the Compulsory Enforcement Service of the Ministry of Justice between 2014 and 2016, conducting the majority of property appraisals under the sponsorship of Mihran Poghosyan, resulting in payments totaling 43,890,000 Armenian Drams from the funds allocated to the state budget for the compulsory enforcement service during that period.

On April 13, 2019, an application was filed by the investigator of the Special Investigative Service to the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction to select arrest as a measure of restraint for Mihran Poghosyan. A search was launched for him.

The pre-trial investigation continues. Financial audits and examinations have been appointed to reveal possible other abuses.