Young Man Extorts 4 Million Worth of Gold Jewelry from Minor Girl

The investigation into the case of extorting a significant amount from a minor girl has concluded in the Human Trafficking, Sexual Integrity of Minors, and Drug Trafficking Crimes Investigation Department of the RA Investigative Committee.

A 20-year-old man has been charged in connection with this case. As a result of the pre-trial proceedings, several circumstances regarding the incident have been clarified. Specifically, it has been established that a resident of Gyumri, born in 1999, with the intention of acquiring rights to property used by a girl born in 2004 and her family, threatened to disseminate defamatory information about her. From February to May 2019, he demanded and received gold jewelry worth a total of 4,275,000 AMD and cash.

According to the investigation, the young man contacted the 14-year-old girl through the Viber messaging application, establishing a relationship with her to request financial assistance, promising to return the money later. The girl did not refuse his request; at his demand, she photographed her gold chain and pendant and sent them to him. The next day, she handed over the promised jewelry, and a few days later, again at his request, she also provided cash.

Furthermore, in March 2019, the young man called the minor girl again, demanding money or gold jewelry. After being refused, he threatened to send photos of the jewelry she had previously given him to her father, thereby extorting various types of gold jewelry from her family over different periods.

The investigation also revealed that in May 2019, the young man asked the girl to send him semi-nude photographs. After receiving those photos through Viber, he called her again a few days later, demanding more gold jewelry or cash, threatening to send the semi-nude photos to her father if she refused. Under these threats, he obtained an additional 30,000 AMD and various types of gold jewelry.

Thus, according to the investigation, the 20-year-old young man extorted gold jewelry worth a total of 4,275,000 AMD and an additional 30,000 AMD from the minor girl. Sufficient evidence has been obtained, and he has been charged under Article 182, Part 3, Clause 2 of the RA Criminal Code. He has been placed in pre-trial detention.

During the investigation, a portion of the stolen gold jewelry, valued at 1,835,000 AMD, has been found and confiscated, which has been handed over to the Central Bank of Armenia. A decision has been made to impose a seizure on the property belonging to the 20-year-old young man under his ownership and co-ownership rights.

The conclusion of the investigation has been announced, and the criminal case has been forwarded to the prosecutor responsible for overseeing the legality of the investigation, with a motion for approval of the indictment and referral to court.