41-Year-Old Man Arrested for Embezzling 1.5 Million AMD Under Pretense of Freeing Soldier from Captivity and Transporting Him to Armenia

The investigation conducted by the Kotayk Regional Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Armenia has revealed several circumstances surrounding a case of embezzlement under the pretense of a soldier’s medical treatment, his release from captivity, and his transportation to the Republic of Armenia.

According to preliminary investigations, a 41-year-old resident of Gegharkunik Province, having met a resident of Hrazdan in November 2020, learned that her son, a soldier, had participated in the military actions that began on September 27, 2020, and that after October 1, all communication with him and his family had ceased.

With the intention of misappropriating the property of another, he gained the trust of the Hrazdan resident, falsely claiming that he served in the armed forces, had contacts, and was engaged in search efforts for her son. Knowing that the soldier had last been seen wounded on the battlefield, he deceitfully informed the soldier’s mother at the end of November 2020 that her son had been injured and was in captivity.

Under the pretext of the son’s medical treatment and transportation to the Republic of Armenia, from November 29, 2020, to January 6, 2021, the 41-year-old man demanded a total of 1,500,000 AMD in several installments, which was transferred to the account he provided. He then embezzled the money through cash withdrawals.

Based on the gathered evidence, the 41-year-old man has been charged under Article 178, Part 2, Clause 2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia (fraud). He is currently under arrest.

The investigation is ongoing. If other citizens have been harmed by the criminal actions of the 41-year-old man, they are encouraged to contact the Kotayk Regional Investigative Department (phone: 0223-7-00-01) or the Kotayk Police or nearby stations. Additionally, we urge individuals not to cooperate with anyone related to such matters but to contact law enforcement authorities instead.

Notice: The person suspected or accused of an alleged crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a legally valid court decision in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia.