41-Year-Old Woman Embezzles Over 22 Million Dram Worth of Livestock

The Shirak Regional Investigation Department of the RA Investigative Committee has revealed numerous cases of large-scale fraud committed by a 41-year-old resident of Jrarat village in the Armavir region, wherein she embezzled property of particularly large values through deception in various locations across the country.

Investigations have clarified the mechanisms of these frauds, the circle of victims, and the extent of damage caused to them. It has been established that between 2020 and 2023, the woman, through fraudulent means, embezzled a total of 22,137,800 AMD from 32 individuals, mainly residents of rural areas in the Armavir, Vayots Dzor, Shirak, Lori, and Syunik regions.

Specifically, she discovered that residents of these regions possessed livestock for sale, and in order to deceive them, she intentionally distorted the truth, providing non-existent and fake information in 26 instances regarding supposed purchases for the armed forces and correctional facilities of RA, while in three cases she claimed to be a meat supplier to a food company, promising to pay with the funds obtained from the sale.

After securing a loan agreement to gain their trust and misleading the property owners, she negotiated the purchase of livestock of varying quantities and values, agreeing to pay the amount within three to five working days. Subsequently, after receiving the property, she has fraudulently sold it, causing property damage to farmers.

In addition, the aforementioned woman from Jrarat village, after discovering that three individuals had seeds for sale of varying quantities and values, visited them and made a similar agreement to purchase them, promising to return the money in a few days. However, after obtaining the seeds, she embezzled them through deception and misuse of trust.

Based on collected sufficient evidence, charges have been filed against the resident of Jrarat village under Article 255, Part 1 (17 episodes) and Article 255, Part 2, Point 3 (15 episodes) of the RA Criminal Code. As a measure of restraint, home confinement has been applied against her. The preliminary investigation has been completed, and the materials of the criminal proceedings, along with the accusatory conclusion, have been forwarded to the supervising prosecutor.

Note: A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a final court judgment in accordance with the law on criminal procedure of the RA.