Former School Principal and 5 Individuals Accused of Embezzling Approximately 14 Million from State Budget

Charges have been filed against six individuals, including the former principal, in connection with the misappropriation of funds discovered at the Hovhannes Tumanyan Secondary School No. 3 in Gavar. This was announced by the press service of the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia.

It has been established that the former principal, with intent to commit significant embezzlement, appointed eight individuals to various positions at the school from 2006 to 2020—such as guard, furnace operator, and cleaner. Each month, he prepared and validated false payroll records and work hour reports with his signature and the school's seal. These records contained fabricated information regarding the alleged regular attendance and performance of their work duties by the aforementioned individuals.

Through this scheme, he embezzled approximately 14,307,433 AMD from the state budget during those years. Additionally, the principal is accused of neglecting his official duties during the period of 2008 to 2019, while 11 students were absent from Armenia and did not attend school for a considerable time. Instead of removing these students from the school in accordance with the legally established procedures, driven by selfish motives to prevent a reduction in the financing amount due to a decrease in the number of students, he instructed the school's teaching staff to ignore their absences and create false entries in class registers that indicated these students were attending school and receiving grades. Subsequently, he issued official graduation certificates, which are considered documents of primary or secondary education, based on these records.

Based on the obtained evidence, the principal has been charged under Article 256, Part 3, Point 3 (embezzlement of entrusted property) and Article 445, Part 1 (official forgery) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia. Charges have also been filed against five other individuals under Article 46-256, Part 2, Points 2 and 3 (assisting in the embezzlement of entrusted property).

As a preventive measure, a prohibition against leaving has been chosen for the six accused. For assisting in the embezzlement of entrusted property, public criminal prosecution has been initiated against two individuals, and a prohibition against leaving has been imposed, with a search warrant issued. No criminal prosecution has been filed against one individual due to their death.

A restriction has been imposed on the movable and immovable property of the school principal. The preliminary investigation regarding the six accused has been completed. The case materials have been forwarded to the supervising prosecutor with a motion to confirm the indictment and send it to court.