Citizen Who Gave Bribe Regrets, While Prosecution Has Been Halted

The investigation into the criminal case concerning the receipt of bribes and other illegal acts by employees of the patrol service of the Police of the Republic of Armenia has been concluded. This was reported by the Anti-Corruption Committee.

According to the evidence collected during the investigation supported by the Internal Security Department of the Police of Armenia, it has been established that patrol officer A. A. from the 4th battalion of the patrol service, upon learning that a fine of 100,000 AMD had been imposed on an acquaintance by patrol officer V. M. for driving a vehicle without a mandatory insurance contract, incited the latter to commit official forgery. Specifically, V. M. indicated in the report that the citizen was fined for using a mobile phone while driving, resulting in a fine of only 10,000 AMD instead of 100,000 AMD.

Subsequently, the concerned citizen, upon becoming aware of the improper recording of the violation and consequently facing significantly reduced administrative liability, provided a bribe to officer A. A. upon the mediation of another police officer from the patrol service, A. M., to conduct an obviously illegal action in his favor.

Furthermore, according to information obtained during the preliminary investigation, officer A. A. regularly failed to record various traffic violations committed by another citizen, his acquaintance G. M. In turn, this citizen bribed the officer A. A. to gain protection and impunity from administrative liability for subsequent violations he would commit in the traffic field.

Under this criminal agreement, G. M. continued to drive vehicles in violation of traffic rules without his violations being recorded, thanks to the personal mediation of officer A. A. who received bribes for not documenting these apparent illegal actions.

On March 14, 2022, officer A. A. of the patrol service was arrested on suspicion of accepting bribes and committing other illegal acts. On the same day, citizen G. M., who gave the bribe to the officer, was also detained and charged on March 15, 2022, under Article 312, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Armenia. He was remanded in custody.

On March 16, 2022, A. A. was charged under Article 311, Part 2/2 and Article 38-314, Part 1 of the Criminal Code for committing specified criminal acts. He was also remanded in custody. The other two employees of the patrol service, V. M. and A. M., were charged under Article 314 and Article 313, Part 1 of the Criminal Code, respectively, and were subject to a signature order not to leave the country.

Regarding one of the citizens who bribed the patrol officers, a decision was made during the investigation to terminate the prosecution on the basis of genuine remorse. The preliminary investigation of the criminal case has been completed, and the case has been referred to the supervising prosecutor, who has approved it and sent it to court.