Food Has Been Withdrawn, But Not Distributed to Children: Embezzlement at the Special School for Children with Hearing Impairments

Based on information received from the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport of the Republic of Armenia, an investigation conducted by the State Interests Protection Department of the Republic's Prosecutor General's Office has revealed indicators of embezzlement of particularly large amounts of property by responsible officials of the "Special School for Children with Hearing Impairments" state non-commercial organization, as well as abuse of official position and official forgery. This has been reported by the Public Relations Department of the Prosecutor General's Office.

Specifically, the organization had acquired 5,350 liters of gasoline valued at 2,045,500 AMD during the 2017-2018 period, which was recorded in fuel demand requests and vehicle operation logs for maintenance of a vehicle registered to the organization. However, it was found that during this period, the vehicle was not in use, and the data entered in the fuel demands and vehicle operation logs were evidently falsified.

In 2018, the organization purchased bedding, bathroom accessories, plates, and cups worth a total of 3,313,850 AMD, including a projector valued at 279,000 AMD. However, it was revealed that goods valued at 2,313,000 AMD were not present in the organization, and the aforementioned projector was not purchased but received as a donation from benefactors.

Additionally, for events organized for children during 2017-2018, the organization acquired food and New Year's gifts worth a total of 1,393,822 AMD; however, the purchased food was not distributed to the children. Over the same period, the organization obtained food worth a total of 61,111,000 AMD, yet due to additions made to distribution documents, food valued at 38,000,000 AMD was withdrawn, but not distributed to the children.

Moreover, according to the organization’s class logs, the first semester of the academic process ends on December 22, while the second semester concludes on May 25. Nonetheless, according to completed documents, food was distributed on December 23 and May 26-27 for 75-100 children on those specific days.

It was also uncovered that 30 employees working in the organization on an internal combined basis actually worked 1 position (8 hours daily) but were compensated as if they worked 1.3 or 1.5 positions, resulting in 26,128,000 AMD in salaries paid for unworked hours during 2017-2018.

Furthermore, based on falsified minutes from the board meetings, bonuses totaling 25,885,861 AMD were illegally issued during the 2017-2018 period.

Criminal proceedings have been initiated at the State Interests Protection Department of the Prosecutor General's Office based on the recorded violations, regarding crimes defined in Article 179, Part 3, Point 1, Article 308, Part 2, and Article 314 of the Criminal Code. The investigation has been entrusted to the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia.