Video: 3.43 Million Dram Stolen by Fraud from the Relative of a Missing Soldier

The National Security Service of Armenia has reported that information has been obtained regarding a case of fraud involving significant amounts of money. H.M., knowing that a conscript soldier had gone missing after participating in the war unleashed by Azerbaijan on September 27, 2020, deceitfully informed the soldier’s mother that he could utilize his influential connections abroad, specifically in the Chechen Republic and Syria, to locate her missing son and facilitate his return to Armenia. This led to her trust in him.

Executing his criminal intent, H.M. met with the mother multiple times, misleading her to obtain precise information about her son's whereabouts. He subsequently preyed on her hope, claiming to be moving her son from one of Azerbaijan's prisons to Baku. Between July and August 2021, H.M. collected large sums in parts from the mother—amounting to 7,000 USD and 60,000 AMD, equivalent to 3,430,000 AMD in total—under false pretenses, and misappropriated the funds for personal use.

A criminal case was initiated by the investigative department of the NSS regarding this large-scale fraud, leading to the arrest of H.M. Based on the solid evidence gathered during the preliminary investigation, charges have been filed against him according to the relevant article of the Armenian Criminal Code, and a motion has been submitted to the court to apply detention as a preventive measure. If his guilt is established in accordance with the law, H.M. faces up to eight years in prison.

At the current stage of the investigation, necessary procedural actions, operational investigative measures, and other activities are being undertaken to clarify all circumstances of the incident and to uncover any other similar crimes committed by the individual in question. The National Security Service reiterates its appeal to avoid entering dubious transactions with individuals involved in criminal tendencies, assuring the public that the state continues to take effective measures to repatriate our citizens held captive.

Notice: The suspect or accused in the alleged crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedures defined by the Armenian Criminal Procedure Code, by a legally binding conviction from a court.