Bribes of up to 400,000 AMD Taken for Driver's Licenses

The Armenian Anti-Corruption Committee's operational-investigative department has uncovered numerous instances of obtaining driver's licenses in exchange for bribes, based on a multi-episode criminal case initiated following conducted operations.

Specifically, it has been established that S. K., a senior inspector of the Road Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Armavir region, abused his official powers and, with the assistance of his associate S. P., received various amounts of bribes from many citizens applying for driver's licenses. The bribe amounts for each individual reached up to 400,000 AMD.

The preliminary investigation revealed that during the year 2023, with the help of S. P., Inspector S. K. conducted formal theoretical and practical tests for around 30 citizens applying for driver's licenses, subsequently producing false documents indicating that the candidates had successfully passed the tests. In some cases, candidates did not even participate in the examinations; nevertheless, S. K. forged documents asserting that they had passed, which were then used as a basis for issuing driver's licenses.

In return, the inspector received a total of 6.5 million AMD in bribes from all these citizens during the year 2023. Consequently, numerous citizens without theoretical and practical knowledge illegally obtained driver's licenses and operated vehicles, thereby jeopardizing road safety.

For the commission of the aforementioned criminal acts, senior inspector S. K. has been charged with multiple episodes under Article 435, Part 2, Point 3 (29 episodes), Article 441, Part 1 (15 episodes), and Article 445, Part 1 (15 episodes) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia, while S. P., who assisted the inspector, faces charges according to Article 435, Part 2, Point 3 (29 episodes). The preliminary investigation of the criminal case has been completed, and the materials of the case have been sent to the court for substantive examination.