Misappropriations Amounting to Tens of Millions of Drams

According to information received from the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia, an investigation conducted by the State Interests Protection Department of the RA Prosecutor General's Office has revealed signs of large-scale theft of property, abuse of official powers, and official forgery by responsible officials of the "Special Educational Complex for Children with Hearing Impairments in Yerevan."

As reported by the press service of the Prosecutor's Office, between 2017 and 2018, the Complex acquired 5,350 liters of gasoline valued at 2,045,500 AMD, which was purportedly spent for the operation of the vehicle accounted for by the Complex according to completed fuel requests and vehicle operation sheets. However, it was found that during this period, the vehicle was not operational, and the data entered in the fuel requests and vehicle operation sheets is obviously falsified.

In 2018, the Complex acquired bedding and bathing supplies, plates, cups, including a projector valued at 279,000 AMD, with a total cost of 3,313,850 AMD. However, it was discovered that accoutrements worth 2,313,000 AMD were not present in the Complex, and the mentioned projector was received as a donation rather than being purchased.

Additionally, for events organized for children in 2017-2018, the Complex purchased food and New Year's gifts worth a total of 1,393,822 AMD, yet the purchased food was not distributed to the children. In total, the Complex acquired food worth 61,111,000 AMD for children during 2017-2018; however, due to alterations made in the distribution documents, food valued at 38,000,000 AMD was recorded as distributed without the actual delivery to the children.

Moreover, according to the records of the Complex, the semester ends on December 22 in the first half and on May 25 in the second half, yet, according to completed documents dated December 23 and May 26-27, food was recorded as being distributed for 75-100 children on those dates.

It also came to light that 30 employees who worked internally at the Complex actually worked one position (8 hours a day) but were paid as if they held 1.3 or 1.5 positions, resulting in payment of 26,128,000 AMD for work hours not actually worked during 2017-2018.

Furthermore, based on falsely recorded minutes of the management council meetings of the Complex, bonuses amounting to 25,885,861 AMD were provided.

A criminal case has been initiated at the State Interests Protection Department of the Prosecutor General's Office based on the recorded violations under clauses 1 of part 3 of Article 179, part 2 of Article 308, and Article 314 of the RA Criminal Code. The preliminary investigation has been entrusted to the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia.