Tax Inspectors Demanded a Bribe of 1.5 Million AMD to Ignore the Lack of Receipt Issuance

The Armenian National Revenue Committee (NRC) has announced that senior tax inspectors T. A. and V. A. demanded a bribe of 1,500,000 AMD from a shop owner in the city of Masis.

According to the press service of the NSS, the inspectors took advantage of their authority when they discovered that individual entrepreneur S.G. had not issued a cash register receipt at his shop during a visit on July 16, 2021. They personally demanded the bribe in order to not record the alleged violations committed by the entrepreneur as prescribed by tax legislation. The inspectors threatened to initiate a criminal case if the bribe was not paid.

On July 30, 2021, they received 1,200,000 AMD of the demanded amount through extortion from the entrepreneur, after which they were caught on the spot and taken into custody by the National Security Service of Armenia. One of the inspectors was found in possession of a special chemical substance prepared to glow under ultraviolet light, marked as "bribe," with the gathered evidence amounting to 1,200,000 AMD.

A charge has been brought against the inspectors for committing a crime under part 4, point 2 of Article 311 of the Criminal Code of Armenia (receiving a bribe by an official in large amounts). As a preventive measure, they have been placed in custody.

Necessary investigative and other procedural actions are being undertaken to uncover further criminal manifestations committed by officials, to identify all individuals involved in the corrupt mechanism, and to provide an adequate legal assessment of their actions.