Theft and Official Forgery: Charges Filed Against Secondary School Principal

The investigation by the Lori regional investigative department of the RA Investigative Committee has concluded regarding a case of theft through misappropriation and official forgery. Charges have been filed against three individuals.

The investigation revealed that the principal of one of the secondary schools in Vanadzor, who has held the position since 1998, committed official forgery. According to the investigation, the principal, fully aware that an individual registered as a technology teacher and electrician, as well as another person registered as a caretaker at the same school, had not attended work from January 2014 to the end of 2018 and from May 2016 to February 2017 respectively, intentionally instructed the academic head to create and submit forged work time calculation reports to him for approval. These reports included false information regarding the attendance and actual hours worked by these employees during the specified periods.

Subsequently, the principal circulated these forged documents and submitted payment requests, from which a total of 5,216,477 AMD was unlawfully withdrawn from the organization's budget in the name of the technology teacher for the days not worked, and 914,666 AMD in the name of the caretaker. The amounts were then received and used for personal needs, resulting in the school's principal diverting a significant total of 6,131,143 AMD through misappropriation, taking advantage of his official position.

Based on the evidence collected during the pre-trial proceedings, charges have been filed against the school principal under Part 3, Point 1 of Article 179 and Part 1 of Article 314 of the RA Criminal Code, against the academic head under Part 1 of Article 314, and against the technology teacher under Part 3, Point 1 of Article 38-179. However, the criminal prosecution against the caretaker has been terminated based on Article 37, Part 2 of the RA Criminal Procedure Code.

During the investigation, the amount of 6,131,143 AMD misappropriated from the secondary school was fully recovered. The conclusion of the investigation has been announced, and the criminal case, with an accusatory conclusion, has been sent to the court.