Former Metro Employee Steals 20 Million 710 Thousand Dram with Accomplices

The Investigation Committee of Armenia has reported that during the preliminary investigation of a criminal case initiated in the Special Investigative Department, factual data have been obtained indicating that the former chief engineer of the Yerevan Metro, in agreement with other individuals, embezzled a particularly large sum of money.

Specifically, a contract for the provision of paid services was signed between the Yerevan Metro and other parties on April 30, 2021, under which these individuals were supposed to carry out renovation and modernization work on metro wagons at the Metro depot. For these works, a total of 20 million 710 thousand Armenian dram was transferred to eight individuals.

During the preliminary investigation of the criminal case, it became clear that the group of eight persons was formed by the former chief engineer of the Metro, and they had no connection to any previous renovation or modernization work on the wagons.

In these circumstances, the former chief engineer assured the responsible staff of the Metro that the mentioned individuals would visit the depot and carry out the work after the main workers' working hours ended at 6:00 PM. However, the mentioned individuals did not show up or perform any work, yet they received the payments stipulated in the service contract.

Thus, the former chief engineer of the Metro, exploiting his position and authority within the company, fraudulently embezzled a total of 20 million 710 thousand Armenian dram in cooperation with the eight individuals.

A public criminal prosecution has been initiated against the former chief engineer under Article 255, Part 3, Point 3 of the Criminal Code (fraud committed in a particularly large amount), and against the eight individuals under Article 255, Part 2, Points 1 and 3 (fraud committed by a group of individuals in agreement).

A search has been announced for the former chief engineer, and he has been taken into custody as a measure of restraint. During the preliminary investigation of the criminal case, 5 million 47 thousand Armenian dram has been recovered from the damages caused to the state, and restrictions have been imposed on the properties of six individuals based on the harm caused by their alleged actions. The criminal case against six individuals has been sent to the supervising prosecutor with an accusatory conclusion.