Former Official Embezzles Approximately 4.5 Billion Drams Worth of 7 Plots of Land: Remarkable Revelation

As a result of joint efforts between the Anti-Corruption Committee of Armenia and the State Cadastre Committee, evidence has been gathered in a criminal case initiated against G. M., a former official of the Cadastre Committee. With the assistance of several individuals and abuse of authority by public officials, G. M. allegedly fraudulently appropriated approximately 4.5 billion AMD worth of four plots of land in agreement with his associate A. M.

During the investigation, it was revealed that G. M., holding various positions at the State Cadastre Committee between 2007 and 2014, had established close relationships with other officials within the same organization. Later, with their help, G. M., in collaboration with A. M., allegedly planned in 2016-2017 to distort facts to fraudulently acquire around 80,000 square meters of land that belonged to the community and the state.

G. M. and A. M. informed their relatives and close associates about their criminal intentions, and after obtaining their consent to assist in the commission of the crime and to eliminate potential obstacles, they began the process of embezzlement. Specifically, they created false documents to attach and use cadastre files of the plots involved in the embezzlement, including counterfeit decisions from the Mayor of Yerevan, fake sale agreements, etc., some of which were signed and circulated by individuals who assisted G. M. and A. M.

Subsequently, through the organization and mediation of G. M. and A. M., several officials abused their official positions and committed forgery. The existing completed pages of the territorial subdivision of the Cadastre Committee were replaced with pages containing false records, and other counterfeit documents were transformed into files related to the cadastre of the land plots subject to embezzlement. As a result, public registration was conducted for land plots that were not subject to registration, and false certificates for the registration of property rights (use) were issued for these, effectively allowing G. M. and A. M. to manage the embezzled properties.

During the investigation, it was established that G. M. and A. M. had embezzled the following community and state-owned plots, which were registered under various individuals who assisted them:

1. According to a decision of the Government of Armenia, a plot transferred to the community of Yerevan free of charge was registered in the name of A. N. through false documents and was later sold to other individuals for approximately 122 million AMD by the organization of G. M. and A. M.
2. Land plots, valued respectively at approximately 560 million AMD and 389 million AMD, included in the list of plots not transferable to citizens and legal entities according to Article 60 of the Land Code, were registered in the names of B. G. and A. M. through false documents.
3. A plot, valued at approximately 415 million AMD and transferred to the community of Yerevan free of charge, was registered in the name of A. S. through false documents.

Moreover, it was found that in addition to the above-mentioned plots, G. M. embezzled plots, which were also registered through false documents in the names of A. H. and L. D., valued at approximately 1.008 billion AMD and 988 million AMD, respectively, that were included in the list of non-transferable properties to citizens and legal entities.

Another plot, valued at approximately 1.039 billion AMD, was registered in the name of K. I., under the government's decision for properties transferred free of charge to the community of Yerevan.

G. M. and A. M. have been formally charged under Article 178, Part 3, Point 1 of the Criminal Code of Armenia, which was in force at the time of the crime (effective since August 1, 2003, revoked on July 1, 2022). They have been placed under detention as a preventive measure.

Additionally, four more individuals who assisted G. M. and A. M. have also been charged under Article 38-178, Part 3, Point 1 of the Criminal Code of Armenia. The investigation is ongoing. Necessary investigative actions and operational measures are being taken to identify all individuals involved in the criminal scheme for the embezzlement of community and state-owned plots, including those who held positions in the Cadastre Committee and the Municipality of Yerevan, who reportedly abused their official positions and committed forgery.

Notice: The suspect or accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the law, as established by a legally binding court decision.