Money Demanded from Soldier's Mother with Claims of Son's Injury, Investigative Committee Reports

The Investigative Committee of Armenia has reported significant developments in a case concerning fraudulent activities involving two residents of Kotayk province, who were deceived with substantial amounts of money under the pretext of paying bribes for a soldier's medical treatment, release from captivity, and obtaining housing.

According to the findings obtained during the investigation, a 41-year-old resident of Gegharkunik province befriended a woman from Hrazdan in November 2020, learning that her son, a soldier, had participated in the military actions that began on September 27, 2020. After October 1, communication was cut off between him and his family. With intentions of unlawfully claiming the woman’s assets, the man falsely presented himself as a member of the armed forces, assuring her that he was searching for her son.

Knowing the soldier was last seen injured on the battlefield, in late November 2020, the 41-year-old man misleadingly informed the soldier's mother that her son had been injured and captured. Under the guise of needing funds for his treatment and transfer back to Armenia, between November 29, 2020, and January 6, 2021, he deceitfully demanded large sums of money totaling 1,271,000 AMD, which the woman transferred to a bank account he provided. He then embezzled these funds for his personal use.

During this period, in December 2020, misleading the Hrazdan resident with false information regarding housing in Yerevan, the man demanded money for commission fees, promising to return the amounts. Consequently, the woman handed him a total of about 70,000 AMD, which he, exploiting her trust, also embezzled.

Additionally, in October 2019, the man established a relationship through the “Odnoklassniki” social media platform with a 45-year-old resident of Charentsavan, to whom he made false promises of marriage. With the intent of fraudulently acquiring property, he concealed his marital status and the fact that he had minor children, claiming to serve in the Armenian armed forces and that he would receive housing in Yerevan.

Under the pretext of needing funds for paying bribes and resolving disputes arising from the housing acquisition, the man deceitfully requested money from the Charentsavan resident, promising to return the amounts. As a result, the woman relinquished a total of 735,000 AMD, which he also misappropriated.

With sufficient evidence obtained, the 41-year-old man has been charged under Article 178, Part 2, Clause 2 of the Criminal Code of Armenia (two instances). He is currently in custody. The preliminary investigation has been concluded, and the criminal case has been forwarded to the prosecutor overseeing the proceedings.

Note: The suspect or accused in the alleged crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the law by a court ruling that has entered into legal force.