Video: Over 25 Million Dram Embezzled at Hayantar SNCO

The Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Combatting Department received operational information regarding the abuses committed by authorized officials of the "Hayantar" SNCO's "Jilizayi Forestry" branch, under the Ministry of Environment of Armenia.

Based on this information, factual data was obtained through measures taken within the framework of the prepared materials. According to the government's decision dated May 14, 2020, concerning the organization and implementation of activities aimed at mitigating the economic consequences of the coronavirus, tree planting activities were to take place along riverbanks in high-altitude areas until June 5, 2020. Following this, a contract was signed between the Ministry of Environment's Forestry Committee and the "Hayantar" organization on May 20, 2020, with a total of over 105 million 940 thousand drams transferred to the "Hayantar" organization.

Subsequently, the director of the "Jilizayi Forestry" branch of Hayantar and other authorized officials took advantage of their official positions, violating the requirements of Armenia's Law on Procurement. On the same day, they organized the signing of formal contracts for the procurement and planting services of 435 thousand aspen saplings with companies they actually owned.

Afterward, with the intent to embezzle the total 25 million 572 thousand drams transferred to their organizations by "Hayantar," the aforementioned officials failed to carry out the work stipulated in the contracts. However, they prepared acceptance acts for the services rendered, containing false information about the procurement and planting of the aspen saplings, as well as the transportation of workers from their place of residence to the forest.

As a result of these illegal actions, they embezzled an exceptionally large amount of about 25 million 572 thousand drams.

A criminal case has been initiated by the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Combatting Department, which has been sent to the Investigative Committee.