Director of Yegvard Number 1 High School Accused of Hiring Individuals Who Did Not Attend Work

The director of Yegvard Number 1 High School has been charged with embezzlement, and a signature preventing her from leaving has been selected as a measure of restraint, as reported by the Investigative Committee.

According to the committee, the preliminary investigation has revealed that the director, who has held the position since 1996, committed a number of irregularities between November 2010 and July 2017.

Specifically, the director hired various individuals who did not attend work, but each month signed and sealed official documents filled with obvious false information that served as the basis for salary calculations. Data from the investigation indicates that the work for these individuals was actually performed by others, and salaries drawn from the state budget were allocated for those who were not present at work but performed the tasks.

Moreover, as noted by the committee, during the period from 2014 to 2017, not only were salaries issued in the names of those who did not attend work, but funds were also unjustifiably transferred from the state budget under the guise of social package beneficiaries, causing property damage to the state.

“There is also evidence that the director unlawfully issued and embezzled funds from the state budget in the name of female employees for maternity and parental leave reimbursements. Furthermore, under conditions of non-attendance, the director created and provided certificates regarding employment at the 'Yegvard Number 1 High School' to facilitate the issuance of funds allocated to working mothers for children up to two years old, which were submitted to the Charentsavan Regional Agency of Social Support within the Kotayk Marz, based on which the employee was registered as a beneficiary,” the statement said.

In addition, according to the committee, the director signed and sealed official documents – salary calculation tables – under conditions of non-attendance by some employees, resulting in funds being calculated and withdrawn from the institution's budget, which were embezzled by her.

The preliminary investigation has established that the total damage to the state amounted to 2,994,276 drams, which was fully restored by the school director during the investigation.

The director has been charged under Article 179, Part 2, Points 1 and 3 [Embezzlement or Waste], Article 308, Part 1 [Abuse of Office], and Article 314, Part 1 [Official Forgery] of the Criminal Code.

Notification has been issued about the completion of the preliminary investigation, and the criminal case has been sent to court with an accusatory conclusion.